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A home elevator is a fantastic way to improve your home’s accessibility. Elevators allow anyone, even those who use wheelchairs or walkers, to safely move between floors within your home.

Dumbwaiters may allow you to move items up and down floors, and stair lifts can move people up and down, but elevators are the best option if you need space for people, their belongings, and/or mobility aids such as wheelchairs.

That said, home elevators cost more than other options, such as stair lifts. Consider your needs and your budget when deciding the best way to make your home more accessible to a person with a disability or a person who is aging in place.

Consulting the architect of your house is not the best way to determine when it was built. Many homes are built by developers or builders, so there may not be a specific architect to track down—especially if you have a very old house. Instead, it’s best to rely on local government records.

A construction manager is particularly useful in the case of a large-scale build with custom design elements, so it’s usually worth it to hire one. They can help manage your budget, maintain quality control, oversee timelines, and navigate unexpected hurdles. While construction managers are pricey, they can actually save money in the long run by identifying cost-saving opportunities and ensuring the project stays within budget.

There are differences between universal design and ADA accommodations, but the outcomes are often similar. While universal design is a proactive process that takes a social justice approach to accessibility for all, ADA accommodations are focused specifically on accessibility for individuals living with disabilities. ADA accommodations often take the shape of wider doors and hallways, ramps, elevators, lower counters and sinks, and easy-to-grab door handles; universal design can include these plus emphasize better lighting, tractioned floors, and other building elements that allow all people to use buildings more comfortably.