A step-free home needs more than a lift in the brochure

An apartment can have a lift and still be unsuitable for a buyer who needs step-free movement. The route from the car, entrance thresholds, bathroom layout or access to shared facilities may matter as much as the floor number.

An agent should let the buyer define the practical requirements without seeking unnecessary medical detail. The aim is a viewing brief that tests daily use. It is not an assessment of the person's eligibility for housing or a certification that a property meets an accessibility standard.

Ask about tasks and routes

Invite the buyer to describe what they need to do comfortably: arrive from a vehicle, enter the building, reach the bedroom, use the bathroom or access a balcony. Ask which requirements are essential and whether they would like a relevant adviser involved.

Do not infer needs from age, appearance or a mobility aid. Different people may use the same equipment differently. Avoid adding sensitive information to a general enquiry when a practical requirement can be described without it.

A useful brief might specify a route to check and a measurement needed. It should not contain an agent's diagnosis or assumption about what the buyer can manage.

Walk the entire arrival route

Start from the point where the buyer expects to arrive. Record changes in level, surfaces, gates, door operation and the path to the actual unit. A promotional image of a reception area cannot establish that complete journey.

If measuring is required, agree who will measure and how the result will be recorded. A video can help explain the sequence, but perspective can distort apparent width and slope. Avoid estimating critical dimensions from a photograph.

For a remote buyer, label the limitations of the evidence. If the exact unit cannot be accessed, say which alternative was shown and which questions remain unanswered.

Check the rooms people use every day

Consider the buyer's stated needs inside the home, including doors, circulation space, bathroom access, storage and controls. Identify furniture that changes usable space. A clear unfurnished plan does not establish the route after beds and tables are installed.

Ask the appropriate specialist to evaluate modifications and confirm any permissions, structural constraints or costs. Do not promise that a doorway can be widened or a shower changed without that review.

Discuss interruptions and assistance

Ask the responsible building team about maintenance, outages and the arrangements relevant to the buyer's requirements. An agent should not invent an emergency evacuation procedure or certify that a lift will always operate.

If assistance is proposed, clarify who provides it, when and under what arrangement. A helpful person at the viewing is not proof of an ongoing service. The buyer needs reliable information on which to base their own decision.

Let the buyer assess the evidence

Present what was measured, what was observed and what was not checked. Avoid replacing this record with "suitable for elderly buyers" or "wheelchair friendly". Those labels can obscure the exact feature the buyer needs to evaluate.

For an IBG enquiry, put the practical requirements in the initial brief with permission and request confirmation of what the local team can verify. Registration does not require the buyer to accept a property or the agent to certify its suitability.

Sources and scope

IBG Property editorial viewing recommendations. No compliance with a building or accessibility standard is asserted. Use an appropriate access specialist and the buyer's own requirements. Programme information: IBG agent workflow.