As anyone who has ever purchased a house knows, it can be one of life’s most stressful endeavors. For parents of special needs children, that can be especially true. Realtor Sandra Beshany, part of the DOBI Real Estate team in Birmingham, has the expertise and experience to help families find the perfect landing spot in which their kids can safely grow and thrive.

It was her own experiences as a mother that led Beshany into real estate. After a career specializing in luxury accessories and boutique clothing and then owning her own business in Birmingham for more than 15 years, she sought a different career trajectory when her son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2.

“Real estate gave me the chance to work and be there for him,” Beshany said. “I got my license when he spoke his first few words.”

Beshany sees her work in personal terms, understanding deeply what it means for families to find a place to call home. “It’s where your memories are made,” she said. “Everything you do starts from home.”

That is especially true for children with special needs, who can benefit from a home chosen specifically with their safety and comfort in mind.

Too often, Beshany said, parents are focused exclusively on the house itself and not everything that comes with it: the yard, the community, the school district.

“You might have a child with dyslexia, for example, and they’ll need accommodations at school,” Beshany said. Because of that, parents need to delve into what services are offered in that prospective school district and make sure those services will grow with their child.

“When you have a child, you don’t always know what their needs are going to be,” Beshany said. So planning ahead is key. She suggests families look for:

• Tight-knit communities where neighbors know one another and are interested in looking out for each other.
• Walkable neighborhoods close to parks where kids can burn off energy and engage in positive movement.
• Houses with open floor plans where parents can see their kids and where children have the freedom to move around safely while gaining independence.
• Fenced yards where children can play outside safely on their own or with siblings, friends, parents or pets.
• Homes with exterior doors that can be locked to keep kids from wandering and homes with wider staircases that are easier for children with muscular or other conditions to navigate.
• Homes that have undergone thorough inspections to ensure there are no molds or allergens that could further exacerbate the day-to-day health of children with special needs.

Beshany finds great satisfaction in helping families find just the right spot for their very special children. “I want to use my own experiences to guide people so they don’t have to go through the same things I did,” she said.

For more information or to speak with Sandra Beshany, please contact Joan Frank at B Frank Communications at (248) 330-0001 or joan@bfrankcommunications.com.