A place for everyone

Home buyers face big challenges in the market today – sometimes just finding an available home is hard. If you’re one of the 57 million Americans with a disability, finding the resources you need to secure a suitable home and a Realtor who knows how to help you can be even more daunting.

As a Realtor working with clients with special needs, you have to understand that some of the issues your clients faces may be unique to them. You’ll have to be able to have conversations with them to understand their challenges and how they use adaptive technologies in their daily lives. You’ll need to be able to communicate with contractors to help explain how a home needs to function to see if it can be modified. You’ll need to be creative and resourceful. If you’re really on the ball, you can create a niche market for yourself. You’ll be able to help an often overlooked segment of the market with a deeper quality of service and create a business opportunity for yourself. Here are some ways to get started:

• Create a local resource guide. Share it on your website, on your social media page, and as an e-book. Include maps of accessible parks and recreational facilities, and lists of local services like public transportation for the disabled, child care and support groups.
• Make sure your office design is accessible.
• Reach out to special-needs support groups. Offer to hold a home buying counseling sessions or a seminar on the resources your community offers.
• Keep a current list of mortgage products and initiatives available to the families of those with disabilities.

The more you learn about how to provide better service to your clients with special needs, the more you become a valuable resource to your customers. By taking the time to listen carefully to the family’s needs, you’ll be able to help them find the right home for them. Whether your client needs very specific schools, access to medical facilities, or physical modifications to their home, you’ll be prepared to respond. Take the time before you encounter a situation with a special needs client to learn more. Go to http://www.reachcils.org/ and http://www.nod.org/ for resources.