Is there a way I can move house at my age?

Davesnave

By coincidence, we were asked to be present this week when the stairlift guy came to visit our 86 yr old neighbour, who's had a fall.

He went through various options, including secondhand and hiring as opposed to purchase, but the bottom line was that something could be installed for under £3k.

I say this because bungalows are expensive relative to houses of the same floor area and condition; > than £3k more expensive

bouicca21

Not all stairs are suitable for stair lifts - my neighbour at the last house could not have one. A stair lift may help OP is she has to stay in current accommodation but I entirely understand why she wants to move and think all avenues should be exhausted before settling for making the best of the existing accommodation.

I'm all for future proofing - we never know what will happen to us in the future and the reality is that once we are in our 60s it aint going to get better.

xylophone

I was forced into early actuarially reduced retirement at 58 and unexpectedly got a full time post 18 months later

Then at the moment you are in receipt of both a pension and a full time salary - are you still contributing to a pension?

http://www.money.co.uk/mortgages/mortgages-for-over-60s.htm

moneyistooshorttomention

Dave

Did that rep. include pricing up for what I would call "room lifts" for the sake of a better phrase for them? I would expect stairlifts, as such, to come in under £3k - but I dont know what these "room lifts" would cost.

Either way - it would be a good bit cheaper than the cost of moving house (mine was around £9,000 when I did so recently - what with legal executive fees, removals, tax, etc, etc). Then add on the cost of work on another house - everyone is going to want (even if not need) to do at least a few thousand £s worth in all probability.

m0t

A stair lift doesn't have to be too expensive.

Despite what companies tell you when you buy they don't buy them back for anywhere near the price you pay.

Once they are no longer required and you get an estimated buy back price (probably less than 25% of what you paid) you realise you can make more money from ebay/gumtree and they aren't particularly difficult to install/remove.

I had to arrange for removal of one a few years back. It cost about £1500 installed (which took an hour or so) and they offered to buy it back for £100. I managed to get £400 for it on ebay.

moneyistooshorttomention

I would imagine organisations like Age Concern might also be a possible source of ideas and/or the items required for adapting a house. So - who knows? - but they might have an advert or two up for redundant stairlifts for sale. No harm in asking..

Davesnave

bouicca21 wrote: »

. A stair lift may help OP is she has to stay in current accommodation but I entirely understand why she wants to move and think all avenues should be exhausted before settling for making the best of the existing accommodation.

I'm all for future proofing - we never know what will happen to us in the future and the reality is that once we are in our 60s it aint going to get better.

My point regarding the 'cheapness' of stair lifts was mainly in relation to moving house, because one pays a premium for bungalows, especially in some areas where supply is limited. Being able to consider houses gives so much more choice.

Money, any other kind of lift will be very much more expensive, as it will involve structural work.

tugrin

Thank you Alecmac I really appreciate your empathetic response.
Can I please absolutley stress 2 things... the house simply will NOT accomdate a stairlift- I have already thought about it (after all I am a teacher and expected to be relatively bright). Sefomd point my garden is 60 metres from house . Further points I havent previously mentioned - I have to reverse down this drive and turn 90 degrees in order to park car (strain on neck evrry day) oh and there is no where to put oil/gas tank or wood.pile. Origianlly I was.carting coal and wood up from garden to heat house- that was fun in winter ! I have to rely on electric convector heaters . Oh and also the bath is at a 90 degree angle in an alcove which is almost impossible use when hips are really bad It is a rubbish cottage-I shouldnt jave bought it but it is what the situation I am I

missbiggles1

bouicca21 wrote: »

Not all stairs are suitable for stair lifts - my neighbour at the last house could not have one. A stair lift may help OP is she has to stay in current accommodation but I entirely understand why she wants to move and think all avenues should be exhausted before settling for making the best of the existing accommodation.

I'm all for future proofing - we never know what will happen to us in the future and the reality is that once we are in our 60s it aint going to get better.

Nowadays you can even get stair lifts for some spiral staircases but they can be expensive. One for a straight stair will be the cheapest and the easiest to source second hand.

Mardle

OP you mentioned that you'd thought about moving to France so you could perhaps consider moving further north into Lincolnshire. You should be able to find a bungalow for £100k. Possibly less in North & North East Lincolnshire.