Why Create Accessible Homes to the Lifemark Standard?

Consumer demand is an important commercial driver, but getting the competitive edge means taking one step ahead – being an innovator, setting new standards of quality and driving new demand.

For New Zealand’s builders and developers, this means taking the responsibility to set new standards in accessible housing by adopting the Lifemark™.  In doing so, you will be building a brand that becomes aligned with a new level of quality in the sector.

Even though consumer demand for Lifemark™ may not yet be strong, it is what our ageing population will be looking for. They will want a house that has an independent seal of approval showing them, and their potential buyers, that this home will work for them, whoever they are, throughout their life.

The business advantages are many, not the least of which is having a powerful and unique marketing story to tell. Summerset Retirement Villages for example, the first retirement home company in New Zealand to receive the Lifemark™, saw the benefits in gaining first-user advantage and associating its brand with not only best practice, but ‘next practice’.  

And Summerset is already experiencing these benefits, as is evident in interviews with their Hastings residents who confirmed that the lifetime design features influenced their decision to choose Summerset over other homes.

So consumers are becoming more discerning in what they're looking for in their homes. What’s more, it is inevitable that demand for lifetime design will continue to grow as our population ages and our needs change. While we may not think twice about stepping into our shower right now, in 10-20 years’ time the risk of slipping may be way too high.

Clearly as the needs and expectations of people change and grow, we must, as an industry, be informing them about the Lifemark™ - that this is what they should be asking for.  

There are already some smart industry leaders who have grasped the opportunities available in taking on the Lifemark™.  Maxim in Christchurch for example, the first developer in Canterbury to seek the Lifemark™, is associating their brand with not just quality, but a commitment to offering all members of society the option of lifelong accessible housing. What a ticket to market advantage.

Indeed, there are multiple factors to consider for any builder or developer interested in the Lifemark™. You will have a lot to offer investors including major savings on future maintenance and renovation costs, a unique marketing story and whether leasing or selling, a much broader market.

Finally, because lifetime design features are not expensive to implement and because they last, Lifemark™ is the socially and environmentally sustainable solution … houses that work for people over time.
 

print