4 Home Upgrades Any Retiree Can Do Themselves
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Retirees have to be careful about what physical tasks they do, as well as how much money they might spend to do them.
If an upgrade around the home is too expensive, they might be stretching their fixed-income budget, but attempting to do the job themselves could put them in the way of unnecessary harm.
Luckily, there are a few ways that retirees can give their home a makeover by doing it all on their own. Here are four home upgrades any retiree can do themselves.
Upgrading or Swapping Out Lighting Fixtures
Also known as the “The 20-Minute Refresh,” according to Fred Loguidice, a real estate expert and the founder of Sell My House Fast Kansas City, he said adding light for safety and some sparkle is “without question the best way to enhance value, and it is essential for safety reasons because vision declines with age.”
“Outdated, low-watt light fixtures in the corridors, kitchens and bathrooms can be swapped out with new, modern and sophisticated LED light fixtures,” Loguidice went on to say. “This is more of a ‘swap out’ project where one may need to know basic wiring skills; always turn off the breaker before attempting to swap out any light fixture!”
Adding Fresh Coats of Lighter Paint
Another great option for retirees looking to upgrade their home and do it on their own is repainting with lighter, neutral tones.
“A fresh coat of paint brightens rooms and makes spaces feel larger and more inviting to potential buyers,” described Kevin Vander Hyde, the vice president of Vander Hyde Services. “Use easy-to-manage tools like roller extenders to avoid bending or overreaching, and focus on accent walls or trim if a full repaint seems too overwhelming.”
Installing Lever-Operated Door Hardware
Loguidice highlighted that putting in lever-style door handles is a home improvement job that retirees love because it only takes a screw driver and can be done while seated.
“Replace all circular door handles in the house with ADA-approved lever handles,” Loguidice explained. “Kits that require no drilling are available: Simply remove the old door handle by unscrewing it, and then screw in the lever handle.”
Loguidice described that these levers are far simpler to turn than round knobs, “particularly if one has arthritis or weak arms or is carrying a laundry basket full of wash. This simple detail makes every door easily accessible.”
Optimizing Storage Space
Decluttering and condensing storage to limit stair use to a basement or attic is a great way that retirees can make some upgrades to their living space without needing to hammer, drill, cut, or use any other tools other than the room they have.
“Reorganize and transfer as much storage as you can to the house’s main floor,” Mitch Coluzzi, head of construction for SoldFast, pointed out. “Climbing stairs gets harder as you get older, especially if your hands are full.”
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