---
title: Free Aging-in-Place Checklist | Single Story & Ranch Homes
description: "Get our free aging-in-place checklist for single story homes for sale and ranch homes: entries, baths and home modifications. Open 24 hours. 202-630-5070."
---

[Real Estate Search and Sale Blog](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog)

# [Free Aging-in-Place Checklist | Single Story & Ranch Homes](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/free-aging-in-place-checklist)

 Written by [Carolyn Thompson, Broker](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/author/carolyn-thompson-broker) | Nov 10, 2026, 1:02:08 AM

**The right home can carry you comfortably through many years, and the details that make that possible are easy to miss on a busy showing. Our free aging-in-place checklist walks you through a home room by room, so you know exactly what to look for in single story homes for sale and ranch homes, and what to plan for in the home you own now.**

Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC created the Aging-in-Place Home Guide for anyone planning to stay in a home for the long term, whether you are searching for single story homes for sale, comparing a ranch or rambler with a condominium, or weighing aging in place home modifications for the house you already love. Request your copy with the short form below. It is free, and there is no obligation.

The guide comes from Carolyn Thompson, Broker of Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC, who has more than 20 years of real estate experience and holds the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR), Military Relocation Professional (MRP), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) and Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS®) designations.

[Schedule a call with a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)](https://calendly.com/consultation-carolynthompson/let-s-connect) or call our 24-Hour Appointment Desk: 202-630-5070

## What is aging in place?

Aging in place means living in the home of your choice comfortably and independently for as long as you like. For home buyers, it usually starts with the layout: one-level living, a step-free entry, and a bedroom and full bath on the main floor. For homeowners, it often means aging in place remodeling, such as a low-threshold shower, better lighting or handrails on both sides of the stairs. Our aging-in-place checklist covers both.

## What's inside the aging-in-place checklist

The guide is 46 pages of practical, printable checklists. Take it on home tours, use it in your current home, or share it with the professionals you choose.

- A one-page touring checklist for single story homes for sale and ranch homes for sale, covering entries, door and hallway widths, the main-floor bedroom and bath, laundry and parking.
- A room-by-room home checklist, from the driveway and front walk to the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, lighting and fire safety.
- Measurement sheets with planning benchmarks published by the National Association of Home Builders, so you can compare homes on facts rather than impressions.
- A guide to bedroom emergency escape openings, including the measurements building officials look at.
- A catalog of 140 tools and aging in place home modifications to consider, each with a caution and a source.
- Questions to ask before you hire an aging-in-place professional, plus where to look for help with the cost of modifications.

## Who the guide is for

The guide is written for home buyers and homeowners who want a home that fits the way they live today and adapts as needs change. Many readers are searching for single story homes for sale, one level homes for sale or ranch style homes; others are helping a family member plan a move or deciding whether to remodel or relocate. If you are buying, selling or both, the checklists help you set priorities before you start touring.

## Request your free copy

Tell us a little about your plans and we will send you straight to the download. Your answers help us point you to homes and resources that fit. We never ask about anyone's health, age or abilities, and you choose whether a Realtor contacts you.

## How a Seniors Real Estate Specialist helps you find single story homes for sale

Rockville, Bethesda, Potomac, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg and Frederick are a sampling of the many communities we serve. When you are ready to search, we set up listings around the features on your list, such as a main-level primary bedroom, a step-free entry or one-level living, and we preview single story and ranch homes for sale with this checklist in mind. If you also need to sell your current home, we can help you plan both moves in a sensible order, including remote closings when you are relocating from out of state or overseas.

We serve Montgomery County and Frederick County, Maryland; Washington DC; Northern Virginia; and Blacksburg, Virginia. Many buyers value nearby amenities such as Rockville Town Square, Pike and Rose, the Capital Crescent Trail, Downtown Frederick and the Huckleberry Trail in Blacksburg. [Schedule a call with a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)](https://calendly.com/consultation-carolynthompson/let-s-connect) to start your search.

## Helpful aging-in-place resources

- [National Association of Home Builders: Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)](https://www.nahb.org/education-and-events/credentials/certified-aging-in-place-specialist-caps)
- [AARP HomeFit Guide](https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2020/homefit-guide-download.html)
- [Eldercare Locator, U.S. Administration for Community Living](https://eldercare.acl.gov/)

## Frequently asked questions

**What is an aging-in-place checklist?**  
An aging-in-place checklist is a room-by-room list of features that make a home comfortable and practical for the long term, such as a step-free entry, a main-floor bedroom and full bath, wide doorways and good lighting. Our free checklist is written for home buyers and homeowners.

**What does aging in place mean?**  
Aging in place means staying in the home of your choice comfortably and independently for as long as you like, often by choosing a home with one-level living or by making thoughtful home modifications over time.

**Is the aging-in-place checklist really free?**  
Yes. Complete the short form on this page and you can download the guide right away. There is no cost and no obligation.

**Do I have to talk with a Realtor to get the guide?**  
No. The form asks whether you would like a Realtor to contact you, and "Not right now" is always an option.

**Will you ask about my health or abilities?**  
No. Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC and its affiliated agents do not ask about, record or evaluate anyone's health, disability, age or abilities. The personal worksheets in the guide are for your private use with professionals you choose.

**What should I look for in single story homes for sale?**  
Start with a bedroom and full bathroom on the entry level, at least one entrance without steps, hallways and doors wide enough for easy movement, laundry on the main floor and parking close to the door. The touring checklist in the guide covers each of these.

**Do ranch and rambler homes work well for aging in place?**  
Many buyers choose ranch homes, also called ramblers, for their one-level layout. Each home is different, so measure entries, doorways and bathrooms, and have a licensed home inspector evaluate the home before you rely on any feature.

**How do I find ranch homes for sale near me?**  
Ask your agent to search for terms such as "ranch," "rambler," "one-level living" and "main-level primary bedroom," then compare each home with the touring checklist in the guide.

**What are the most common aging in place home modifications?**  
Common changes include lever door handles, grab bars anchored into solid backing, a low-threshold shower, brighter lighting, handrails on both sides of stairs and moving laundry to the main level. The guide lists 140 options, each with a caution.

**What is aging in place remodeling?**  
Aging in place remodeling is a planned set of changes, such as a curbless shower, wider doorways or a main-floor bedroom suite, that make a home easier to live in for the long term. Get written estimates from licensed contractors and check permit requirements with your local building department.

**What is a certified aging in place specialist?**  
A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) has completed a designation program from the National Association of Home Builders on home modifications for long-term living. The designation is not a construction, architecture, inspection or clinical license, so confirm licenses separately.

**What is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist?**  
A Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) is a Realtor who has completed the National Association of Realtors designation focused on buying, selling and moving decisions during life transitions such as downsizing. Carolyn Thompson, Broker, holds the SRES designation.

**Does a home have to meet ADA standards to work for aging in place?**  
Private single-family homes generally are not covered by ADA design standards. The guide uses planning benchmarks from the National Association of Home Builders as references, and local codes may still apply. Confirm requirements with your local building official.

**Can you recommend contractors or aging-in-place specialists?**  
We can provide contact information for independent service providers. You are free to use any provider you choose, providers should be properly licensed and insured, and we do not endorse or guarantee any provider's work.

**Can you help me sell my current home and buy a single-level home?**  
Yes. We can help you plan both moves in a sensible order and help coordinate the logistics when you schedule inspectors, movers and other specialists.

**Do you serve buyers outside Maryland?**  
Carolyn Thompson is licensed in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia and Florida. If you are moving somewhere else, we can connect you with a real estate professional in that area.

Rockville, Bethesda, Potomac, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Frederick and Blacksburg are a sampling of the many communities Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC serves.

### Related services

- [Home buying services for single story and ranch homes](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/home-buying-services)
- [Downsizing and right-sizing your home](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/downsizing-and-right-sizing)
- [Senior Services Network](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/senior-services-network)
- [Move first, sell after](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/move-first-sell-after)
- [Home selling services](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/home-selling-services)

## Help locating independent service providers

Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC can provide contact information for independent service providers. You are free to use any provider you choose. Providers should be properly licensed and insured. We do not endorse or guarantee any provider's work. Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC does not receive payments from service providers whose contact information we share.

## Wire fraud alert

Criminals target real estate transactions with emails and texts that appear to come from agents, title companies and lenders. Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC never sends wiring instructions by email or text. Before you wire any money, call your title company or settlement attorney at a phone number you have verified independently, never one taken from an email or text, to confirm the instructions. If you suspect fraud, contact your bank and the title company right away.

## References available on request

Most of our business comes from referrals. We will gladly provide a list of client and professional references on request.

*The Aging-in-Place Home Guide is educational only. Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC and its affiliated agents are licensed real estate professionals, not attorneys, accountants, home inspectors, appraisers, contractors, code officials, occupational therapists or health care providers. Nothing on this page or in the guide is legal, tax, financial, inspection, appraisal, construction, code, medical or safety advice. The guide is not issued or endorsed by the National Association of Home Builders.*

Carolyn Thompson, Broker · CRS · ABR · SRES · SFR · CDPE · MRP · CDS  
Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC · 1300 Piccard Drive, Suite 204, Rockville, MD 20850 · 800 Park Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060  
24-Hour Appointment Desk: 202-630-5070 · Open 24 hours · Licensed in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia and Florida · Equal Housing Opportunity

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