Late to the discussion, but for others in this situation that can do the following: When we build our retirement home in '18, we put in a sunken shower floor in the master bath. ie, the shower floor is level with the rest of the bath floor. Nothing to step over, could roll a wheeel chair into the shower directly and transfer to chair or stand up. Grap rails in the future if needed. Stairwell to basement is 4ft wide to allow for stair chair and still have decent walking space around it. Trying to renovate an existing homemcould be costly, though. These were realized from talking with older people that needed help. Everything for us in the future is on the main floor, walkout basement is for additional bedrooms, guest, craft areas, etc. Jon
Thank you for the feedback. VERY good suggestions IMO.
Reminds me of the expression that "hindsight is the perfect science" on our own end though.
18 or so years ago, our newly bought 3 level home with walk out basement seemed like the perfect fit for my wife and myself, with the intent that my father could live in the furnished basement (my mom had died before I ever met my future wife) added the extra bedrooms and 2 full baths on the 3rd floor. Keep in mind, this was the first house I ever bought, and my wife and I fell in love with the land first, the house second, but the house had plenty of space.
Only took my dad 15 years to finally decide to move in with us after we bought the house. If my dad goes, there is a good chance my MIL will come to stay with us and take over the basement.
When my boys ever decide to build, my feedback will to keep the square footage where you want for space, but to keep it a single level home only.
Issue we now have is first floor is where we keep our office, would make a small bedroom, and only have a 1/2 bath on the first floor. Have cathedral ceilings on the first floor, could make extra room on the 3rd floor by remodeling, but the HVAC would be a major headache to gain an extra room on the third floor.
Way around that would be to redo the garage for a small living area (thanks to Eddie Walker for that suggestion when we were looking at building on our property for my MIL) and that is still on the table down the road.
I do know when we finally move, it will be a single story house.
With my father on in the basement and us on the 3rd floor, we just picked up a cheap "alarm" system so if by chance my dad needs help in the basement, he hits a button (he has 2) and we're alerted on the first and third floor. Seems my dad is just a little leary by himself where we can't really hear him on the 3rd floor. I consider the furnished basement as the second floor if my terminology is confusing anyone.
Anyway you cut it, be it basement or 3rd floor where the bedrooms are located, you have stairs to deal with.