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btrflygrl
me and baby #3!
Member since 5/05 12013 total posts
Name:
Shana
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Anyone ADD ON an apt to their house?
my grandmother is thinking of moving to GA and we'd be building an apt onto our house.
How much would somethiing like this be? I'm thinking 1,000 sq ft would be more than enough for her.
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Posted 8/29/05 11:56 AM  |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Anyone ADD ON an apt to their house?
I read an article in Newsday about 6 months ago about a company the sells pre-fab modular apts or granny apts. This is a growing industry because so many of us will have our parents living with us at one time or another. People are living longer but more and more of them are disabled and with health insurance cuts nursing home care costs will be prohibitive for most middle class families in our generation. I took an interest because my Dad is disabled for a stroke and very well might be living with me someday.
Basically it is a studio apt that is prefab. They deliver it on site and you attach it to your house or free standing on the outside on the property. If you attach it to your house you just make a door in a pre-existing room. I'm not sure if it contains a bathroom or not.
The reason why it is such a good idea is many people do not want to permanently alter the structure of their house and go through all of the costs of building it and or the permanent tax implications. Not to sound morbid, but most people know that if they have an elderly loved one living with them it might not be for 15-30 years.
I would also ask how handicapped accessible is your house? As people get older even one step can become a major hurdle. If you are doing construction I'd make sure all of the doorways are wide enough for a wheelchair just in case that ever happens. Also, the bathroom must have bars near the tub and toilet. It should also be big enough if it ever needs to accomodate a wheelchair. I know my Dad must sit when he takes a shower so he has a permanent seat in his new bathtub.
Hope all of this helps. Your granny might be really fit now but it's important to think down the road if you are going to do construction. The bathroom is the most dangerous room for elderly people.
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| Posted 8/29/05 3:24 PM |
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alisunshine
LIF Infant
Member since 8/05 138 total posts
Name:
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Re: Anyone ADD ON an apt to their house?
Wow, that's a really interesting concept and something to look into. Thanks for sharing
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| Posted 8/29/05 3:26 PM |
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btrflygrl
me and baby #3!
Member since 5/05 12013 total posts
Name:
Shana
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Re: Anyone ADD ON an apt to their house?
thanks for that! Being in GA...even if our taxes go up, it won't be horrible. They are about $1450 now. We are planning on a ground floor apt for her (she is QUITE able and very independent) and it would be so that she is not alone SHOULD something happen to her.
She wants 1 br w/walk in closet, kitchen/dining, 2nd room that could be a tv room/2nd br for guests, and a place for her laundry, and bathroom. Basically, the first floor of her house now, but I think that's excessive.
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| Posted 8/29/05 3:28 PM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Anyone ADD ON an apt to their house?
Posted by btrflygrl
thanks for that! Being in GA...even if our taxes go up, it won't be horrible. They are about $1450 now. We are planning on a ground floor apt for her (she is QUITE able and very independent) and it would be so that she is not alone SHOULD something happen to her.
She wants 1 br w/walk in closet, kitchen/dining, 2nd room that could be a tv room/2nd br for guests, and a place for her laundry, and bathroom. Basically, the first floor of her house now, but I think that's excessive.
That would be very $$$$ and beyond what those granny flats are. I tried to do a search on the Newsday sight for you but nothing came up. I also searched google.com but I only got sites in Europe that sell them.
She may not need the handicapped accessibility right now but you never know. It's better to have it and never use it that have to alter the structure later and it might not even be able to be altered depending upon how it's built.
I would try to design it so that her bathroom is up against your existing plumbing.. your kitchen or your ground floor bathroom. That saves a lot if you can use the pre-existing plumbing. Honestly, I don't think she needs her own washer and dryer. Bascially she needs a one bedroom apt. with a living room/kitchen combo. Couldn't she just do her laundry in your part of the house? If you decide to add the permanent structure could you rent it out to a tenant? Do you want her to have separate utilities because she would need a separate electrical box etc. and that is more money as well.
Another issue is building codes and lot sizes. I think it is less trict in the south but I'm sure with the building boom down there it's getting stricter. They might limit the size of the structure compared to the lot size. up here it can vary greatly by town and just because you have an acre doesn't mean you can have a big house... you'd be surprised.
I would look into the pre-fab route personally. Honestly, I remember seeing them in the article and you would never know. I'm sure they offer options to customize them somewhat and it would be so much better than having contractors there for several weeks making a mess etc.
Definitely do more research before you start.
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| Posted 8/29/05 4:16 PM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Re: Anyone ADD ON an apt to their house?
In Georgia wouldn't it maybe be cheaper for her to rent an apartment since its very affordable there rather than you and DH having to build onto your house?
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| Posted 8/29/05 6:38 PM |
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