The EasyLiving Home program, a new initiative from the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City and the Universal Design Housing Network, is helping bring all that and more to local housing. Combining elements of accessibility and universal design, the program has certified more than 1,000 new homes across the country and a handful right here in the metropolitan region.

Kansas and Missouri are two of just seven states with programs utilizing EasyLiving Home designs. The HBA has teamed up with the Universal Design Housing Network, a program of the Coalition of Independence, to provide certification and educational programs in the two-state region.

The EasyLiving Home program creates a central resource for home buyers, builders and remodelers. With resources including guidelines and certification for EasyLiving Home building and remodeling and a database of available home plans and design, the EasyLiving Home program provides clear, concise definition what it means to make a home easy to live in and enjoy for a lifetime.

The EasyLiving Home guidelines specify what features and amenities builders can use to make a home more accessible and user friendly. Upon a home's completion, an EasyLiving Home representative inspects the home to ensure that the specifications were followed and the expectations met. The builder is provided with an EasyLiving Home certification for the homebuyer and a seal of approval to display on the certified home.

The EasyLiving Home program requirements focus on three main principles: easy access to the home and main living area; easy passage through all interior doorways and hallways; and easy use with at least one bedroom, full bathroom, kitchen and entertainment area on the main level. Individual guidelines spell out other ways builders can make home more accessible regarding appliances, home electronics, countertops and cabinets and maneuvering space in rooms such as baths and kitchens.

Like any other home amenity, EasyLiving homes offer long-term benefits for buyers. EasyLiving Home concepts help prepare a home for all stages of life. For homebuyers who expect to stay in their new home into their retirement years, the designs are ideal and allow the owner to be prepared for any potential disability or lifestyle change, as well as accommodating friends and family who will find the home more accessible. If you plan to sell the home in the future, EasyLiving Home designs can add to resale value and make the home more attractive to potential buyers.

Homebuyers who want to learn more about the EasyLiving Home program can visit the EasyLiving Design Center hosted by the Universal Design Housing Network. The center features and extensive array of design ideas that show homebuyers and builders how to incorporate accessible amenities and features in new homes. For more information, contact UDHN at (816) 285-0621 or visit www.kchba.org/easyliving.