those with apt's in their houses or anyone...

I have a question, maybe someone can give some advice.

We are in the market for a house that has room for my mom, but we want seperate spaces...

What do you think is cheaper in the long run...
A house with a full finished basement where we added if neccesary a bathroom and a small kitchen area....Or

We saw a place with bedroom and a bathroom on the downstairs and we would be able to get a permit probably to add on a kitchen or turn the den area into another room and build a wall and outside entrance.

The contractor we have says it would be equal cost, but Im wondering if anyone knows or has opinions..who has done renovations??

TIA!

Message edited 7/3/2005 8:04:49 PM.

Re: those with apt's in their houses or anyone...

I would THINK that adding a bathroom/kitchen to a basement would be cheaper than adding on extra space and having to put a bathroom/kitchen in that as well...

Re: those with apt's in their houses or anyone...

Well i would think, if i am understanding your post correctly, that adding a bath and kitchen would be MUCH CHEAPER then building off your home a new room. Aside from your taxes going up because of the construction you would still have to put in a bath and kitchen if you want her to have a separate one. So your first suggestion would naturally be cheaper. Building a room on to a home can be very pricey

Re: those with apt's in their houses or anyone...

Donna go with adding a bath, etc to the basement, Its much cheaper. To put an extension on a house requires necessary permits from the town and once it's done they will come reassess your taxes - and they will go up. Not that I'm suggesting this-but you could make the changes inside your house without anyone knowing and keep your taxes the same.

We have an apt in our house - we have a high ranch and the apt in on the main level. Works great for us, we have added income and still have plenty of room upstairs plus the deck and yard.

Re: those with apt's in their houses or anyone...

thanks!!
What about NOT adding a room, just a wall..
For example...I dont think O worded my original post right.

We saw a house that had off the side kinda a bedroom with a bathroom next to it and a den. It had a huge living room so we wouldnt need the den...We were gonna put up a wall starting at the front door to make it an addtional apce...all we would need would be to install a kitchen inside, and in this case an outside entrance.

Anyone know if thats expensive?

Something like that....the house was much much less ( betweenaround 40K) then the house we saw with a full finished basement...same space if not more.

Anyone add an entrance?