I once thought turning 50 would be liberating. The reality didn’t quite live up to the fantasy, but now that I’m 54, I’ve finally started to feel as if I can have things my own way, and not just at Burger King.
Custom builders, of course, know that their 50-plus clients are no different than younger clients in wanting things their way. Great service and fine craftsmanship are important, but there are certain design features that rev up the over-50 crowd. In "Wow Factors for Clients Over 50," you’ll find a sampling of 50 “wow factors” that will be posted in their entirety in a slideshow at CustomBuilderOnline.com.
When we say 50-plus, we’re really talking about two demographic groups: baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) and the Silent Generation (born between 1927 and 1945). I point this out because a number of the items on my “wow” list are related to accessible design. Accessibility may not be top of mind for all boomers, who tend to think of themselves as younger than they really are. But trust me, the Silents are anticipating the day when their hips and knees hurt too much to climb stairs; their eyesight is less acute; and arthritis makes turning a faucet or doorknob difficult. (In fact, for some of them that day may already have arrived.) And think about this: an increasing number of boomers are taking elderly relatives into their households. Why not include stepless entries, lever-handle faucets and other accessible features in your homes and show them you’ve taken the long view?
Incorporating universal design principles without compromising style will help 50-plus clients age in place while making it easier to care for those less mobile. If in the future they decide to sell the home, it will have that much more perceived value. Kick your marketing strategy up a notch and point out that accessible features can be beautiful well as practical. (Have you seen the latest residential elevator designs? How about those decorator grab bars for the tub?)
In the words of Jack Wagnon, managing director of Prairie View Homes in Lake Oswego, Ore., “Universal design is by far one of the most functional value propositions that this buyer demographic sees as positive. They want a stylish home that can be modified over time so that they can age in place.”
The nice thing is that you can still render them speechless with the knockout wine cellar, home theater and outdoor kitchen you built for your last client. Because there’s one thing boomers and Silents have in common: they believe it’s their turn to have it all.
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