Hi Ranch questions

We're casually scouting houses. A hi ranch isn't my top pick, but the right one would be a possibility. Finding "the right one" in this style home is trickier than expected. It seems like all of them have been cut in half and turned into two houses! Personally, we're upgrading because we need the space. I have no desire to be a landlord.

Why are there so many "potential mother daughter" hi ranches with quasi-legal apartments in the bottom half?

How much would it cost to remove a kitchen and get the lower level back? (I know, it depends. But I'll take ballpark figures. And no, DH and I are not handy).

Help?

Message edited 7/14/2014 8:50:45 PM.

Hi Ranch questions

There are so many because people want to supplement the cost of living on Long Island and this style of home is easy to do that with.

As for converting back, no advice for how much it will cost. But will suggest leaving the kitchen since it's there. If it is a full functioning kitchen you can use it when you are down there. Also if you entertain you will have access to a second oven for heating things up. I have 2 kitchens in my house and love it for this purpose. But I entertain almost every other week and definitely over prepare.

Message edited 7/15/2014 7:24:53 AM.

Hi Ranch questions

Hi Ranches are pretty easy to convert into apartments because of the layout. Everything is usually above grade and normally there is already an outside entrance to the downstairs and a bathroom already there.

For converting it back, it really depends on how it was laid out. Growing up we had a High Ranch with an apartment and the only thing that was added was a door downstairs splitting the two parts (and the kitchen of course). When we converted it back we just took out the door and left the kitchen because as the pp said, it was only a small one anyway and it helped with entertaining to have a sink, fridge and stove downstairs.

Re: Hi Ranch questions

It's usually not a big deal to rip out a kitchen. Sometimes, it's just a matter of unplugging an electric stove and a refrigerator, taking out a sink (and having plumbing capped off), and demo-ing cabinets (that you may have use for in a garage, utility room, etc for storage).

If the apartment is configured into several rooms, you may want to open up walls again to make a large family room instead of a bedroom, or bedrooms, and a living area.

I don't really have an idea on the cost, but since you are just basically removing things from an existing, finished space (not adding on or finishing an unfinished space), I don't think it would be very costly (or take too long). I think a lot of it can be DIY, if you are so inclined.

Yes, many hi ranches have an accessory apartment or are mother-daughters. It's one of the only styles of house on LI that really lends itself to that set up because the upstairs is pretty much like a stand-alone ranch house, and the downstairs is above grade and ample space for an apartment. So it's separate spaces. But the very thing that attracts people to the hi ranch if they are looking for a potential mother-daughter or rental income is what sometimes turns off buyers looking for a single family home -- they feel like the upstairs and downstairs are not a cohesive whole, and it's more like 2 separate units.

Re: Hi Ranch questions

I don't know about cost of removing but I wanted to say when we were house hunting Hi Ranchs were my top pick, not bc I loved them more than a colonial but there are a lot in my area and usually a better price point than colonials and I felt they would suit our needs as a young family, let the kids tear up the downstairs and keep the upstairs nice lol

We ended up w a colonial haha

Also by me a lot of people keep the kitchen in the basement for entertaining and the rest of the space is like a den area.

Message edited 7/15/2014 12:57:19 PM.

Re: Hi Ranch questions

Message edited 7/15/2014 1:53:33 PM.

Re: Hi Ranch questions