Addressing Common Concerns About Buying a Wheelchair Ramp for Your Home

As the American population ages and more people require mobility aids, wheelchair will become increasingly popular add-on for homes. Ramps are a great way to make your home more welcoming and easily accessible, but many homeowners still have some concerns over how they look, how expensive they are, how they’ll impact resale value and a variety of other issues.

We’ve pulled together some answers to common concerns that we hear on a regular basis, so read on for some more insight into why a wheelchair ramp might be what your home’s been missing.

Concern: Wheelchair Ramps are Expensive and Permanent

For starters, you can think of a wheelchair ramp as an investment. They can help you maintain expensive medical equipment by easing the burden on their wheels and chassis. They can also help you head off pricey medical bills. Just think of the repercussions that one bad fall on steps or a makeshift ramp could have.

Furthermore, there are more options on the market than ever before. Gone are the days where your only choice was a completely permanent structure that required hiring contractors, pouring concrete and so forth. There are all sorts of choices now, including extremely mobile and affordable aluminum ramps that can be easily placed and removed at your leisure.

Concern: Wheelchair Ramps Will Affect My Home’s Resale Value

Many people are concerned that accessibility modifications could negatively affect their home’s resale value. After all, what if the next people have no need for the device? Will they be less likely to place a bid on your home if they know they’re just going to have to dismantle something?

Fortunately, we have not seen that these types of ramps can have serious repercussion on your home’s worth. The first thing that you should keep in mind is that these ramps can seamlessly blend into a home’s aesthetic so as to almost be unnoticeable, rather than sticking out and making your house feel like a medical facility.

Second, as we mentioned above, there are more Americans living to older ages than ever before. It’s becoming increasingly likely that there will be a larger pool of potential buyers in the market for a house with these types of accommodations.

Concern: Ramps Are Not Safe

If customers are concerned about the safety of ramps, we again ask them to first consider the alternative. Safe compared to what? Not having an accommodation like a ramp puts you at far greater risk of a fall that could seriously injure you. Navigating steps that can get icy or slippery and wet is just asking for trouble, and a ramp could be just what you need to help keep you safe and secure. It also offers the degree of independence that all of us crave – a significant added bonus.

Ramps are also built for maximum safety for all users. Most have a significant amount of grip and skid resistance built right in, usually in the form of metallic features or grip tape that all but guarantees secure footing. Additionally, ramps have perforated slots all over the surface that prevent water from pooling. This obviously eliminates a significant tripping hazard and increases the chances of safe usage.

Concern: Ramps Don’t Last

This myth of low durability is one that we’ve seen before, and it’s quite easily countered. Since they’re made for the outdoors weather will obviously take a toll on them but using materials like stainless steel and aircraft-grade aluminum can help counteract those forces. In recent years other products like recycled rubber have gained popularity as well and all serve to increase the life and usefulness of ramps. Advances in technology mean that now, more than ever, ramps are a surefire bet to last for an extended period of time and guarantee that you get the most bang for your buck.

Handicap-accessible ramps are a good idea for most homeowners with decreased mobility. They’re more affordable than ever, are truly built to last, and can be a solid investment and addition to your home.