Explain your step-free access needs before buying

Think through arriving with shopping, getting out of a vehicle and reaching the main door. Note any need for a level entrance, a place to rest or help opening a gate. Describe the task rather than asking only for a convenient home.

Inside the home, consider moving between rooms and reaching the bathroom. If you use a wheelchair, walker or another aid, keep its dimensions ready. Share only the practical access needs required for the property discussion; personal medical papers are not needed.

Ask to see the route that would actually be used. Look for steps between parking and the lift, space near doors and places where turning may be difficult. Keep any route you cannot see marked as unconfirmed.

If the person using the route can attend comfortably, ask for their feedback. Otherwise record the measurements and questions they need answered, with permission for any photographs. Ask a suitable professional about changes before treating a possible alteration as a solution.

Separate essential access needs from preferences. A low floor, a working lift and a step-free entrance are different requirements, so explain each one. Mention whether help will usually be available or the person needs to move independently.

Give our team a short list of routes and spaces that must work. If a visit reveals a new difficulty, describe the exact point and update the requirement. Do not replace a necessary check with a general assurance that the building is accessible.