5 Small Home Upgrades Retirees Say Were Worth Every Dollar
As a retiree, it’s important to make sure your home includes the safety and comfort features it should, especially if you’re planning to age in place. But that doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money to have a contractor update your whole house all at once. Instead, start small and do one or two home upgrades at a time.
Here are five home upgrades that retirees say were worth every dollar. These would make a great starting project for your home.
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1. Install Bathroom Grab Bars
According to HomeAdvisor, installing bathroom grab bars costs about $200 to $350, but they can be an extremely useful addition to reduce your risk of falling in the bathroom. Installed near the bathtub or shower, they can provide support if you lose your balance. They can also help seniors with arthritis or joint pain.
2. Upgrade to a Comfort-Height Toilet
Toilets come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and heights. However, as you get older, lowering yourself onto a standard toilet can be a challenge. That’s why it's a good idea to install a new, taller toilet designed to reduce how far you need to squat before you sit. This not only reduces stress on your knees but can also lower your risk of falling.
RateYourPlumber estimates that installing a new standard toilet will cost between $180 and $500, as long as most of the plumbing doesn't need to be replaced or altered.
3. Replace Doorknobs With Lever Handles
You might not have considered upgrading the doorknobs in your home, but this could make your life easier as you get older. Replacing knobs with handles makes it easier to open doors because you won’t need to grip as hard or twist, which can be harder for someone with arthritis or reduced grip strength.
This project can be fairly simple for someone handy around the house to do on their own. You’ll only pay anywhere from $20 to $100 per handle. If you need professional installation, expect to pay a few hundred dollars more.
4. Install a Smart Thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat makes your home more comfortable while saving you money in the long run. With a smart thermostat, you won’t need to walk over to the thermostat to change the temperature. Instead, you can set a schedule based on your needs and alter it from your phone as necessary. Plus, some smart thermostats can even detect when you’re in a room and automatically adjust the temperature.
According to Angi, installing a new thermostat costs an average of $184, plus the cost of the thermostat itself. Additionally you can expect more complicated smart home systems to fall on the higher end. But it can also save a lot in energy bills, depending how you use it.
5. Add Pull-Out Kitchen Shelves
As you get older, reaching into some of your lower cabinets can become a little more challenging. To make it easier and avoid bending down, you can install pull-out shelving inside your cabinets. These will bring your pots, pans, and other kitchen items toward you instead of requiring you to maneuver into the cabinet to retrieve them.
Retrofitted shelving costs vary quite a bit based on size and number, but should be quite affordable compared to the thousands for new built-in cabinetry.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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