Kitchen on ground floor?

Squish_21

Sounds like a nightmare! Not something i'd consider, especially if I had kids.

dubsey

These type of new builds are now going back up at a very quick pace where I live in Kent (after building stopped completely for about a year). They seem to sell very well off plan, as the rooms look spacious and sell well on the show home front. Resales are not so good. When we take them on we do find it very difficult to get viewings on them, mainly people with very young children actually seem the most put off. I think, Kittie, you were very lucky to sell so quickly, it certainly isn't my experience.

As has been said already, if you are having doubts now, I don't think this is the home for you. Each property we have bought bar one, we had no doubts at all, the one exception we put back on the market within just over a year of moving in.

seven-day-weekend

My Spanish house has a large kitchen downstairs (it used to be the stable), then the sitting room upstairs. I love it, it is so cool and if you don't feel like clearing up you can walk away and leave it (if you are slobs like us). We actually have three sets of stairs in this house. We are 60 and 61 and it keeps us fit!

My UK house has three sets of stairs too!

mjm3346

A few cheery things to consider-

"Falls account for 71% of all fatal accidents to those aged 65 and over, and 54% of all injuries . The most serious injuries usually happen on the stairs."

"The most serious home accidents involving older people usually happen on the stairs and in the bedroom or living room. The largest proportions of accidents are falls from stairs or steps with over 60% of deaths resulting from accidents on stairs. Location of non-fatal falls from stairs or steps:

• Over 60% occur on a staircase - these tend to get more serious as the person gets older.
• 18% occur over interior steps, usually on a flight of two or three steps between adjacent rooms.
• 13% occur on outside steps, either in the garden or leading to the front door.
• 7% occur over the doorstep, entering or leaving the house.
• 1% occur from a step ladder while cleaning windows etc.

Falls represent the most frequent and serious type of accident in the over 65 age group. They are a major cause of morbidity and death in older adults.
Falls experienced by older people are more common among those with a longstanding illness or disability and the injuries sustained are generally more serious than those experienced by young persons."

"Most accidents in and around the home happen in the living (dining) room, probably because this is where most families spend the majority of their time. The next most common places are the kitchen, bedroom and the stairs. Accidents in the kitchen and on the stairs are the most serious."

puddy

crikey:eek:

ILW

Living in a house does appear to be very dangerous, the alternatives seem a little impractical though.

GDB2222

dubsey wrote: »

When we take them on we do find it very difficult to get viewings on them, mainly people with very young children actually seem the most put off.

Children usually don't get badly hurt when they fall down the stairs. A husband who is unsteady on his feet, though, is much more likely to get seriously hurt if he falls.

Fire_Fox

Send your husband to Tai Chi classes, there was a study a while back which showed it was associated with a 50% reduction in falls in the older age group: any other balance training would be equally good. Use it or lose it!

milliebear00001

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Send your husband to Tai Chi classes, there was a study a while back which showed it was associated with a 50% reduction in falls in the older age group: any other balance training would be equally good. Use it or lose it!

This made me giggle! My husband is only 35, but has MS - hence the unsteadiness. I'd never get him to Tai Chi, though I don't doubt it would be beneficial!

Thank you for all the advice. We are all going to a second viewing, but am strongly veering towards a second house, with only two floors (further away from school :-() but a better long-term prospect. I work, while my OH is at home with our children. Don't think I could stand the stress of worrying everyday whether or not one of them had fallen down the stone stairs!

kunekune

We had to make this kind of decision 18 months ago when house hunting. My husband has Parkinsons, and like yours, is not completely steady. Also, of course, it will get worse over the years and not better. We decided that the living had to be on one floor, and that there must also be a toilet on that floor. A full bathroom and the 'spare' bedroom would have been better but there wasn't anything like that on the market in the right areas (we also have school-aged children and had to take zones into account).

I sometimes look at the house we decided against, which was lovely, and is still for sale ... But I know we did the right thing.