5 Things to Think About Before Adding an In-Law Suite

Hello Friends,

After their parents put a roof over their heads for years, some adult children may consider returning the favor. Creating a distinct space at home for an aging parent to move into — whether it’s a separate backyard unit, a converted basement or bedroom or an added-on suite — is a major undertaking. But with its added peace of mind, potential savings and investment value, flexibility and emotional reward, it’s an undertaking that may be worth the effort for the right family.

And it’s an undertaking that more and more families may be facing. Between people living longer and having children later in life, assisted-living facilities getting more expensive and diminishing urban housing options, moving mom or dad in with you could make the most sense. A record 64 million Americans (20 percent of the U.S. population) lived in multigenerational households (homes that included two or more adult generations, or grandparents and grandchildren younger than 25) in 2016, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census data.

So how can homeowners know whether building out a home-within-a-home for their loved ones is the best decision for them? Here are a few questions experts suggest you ponder before getting to work.

1. Will Your House — and City — Allow It?

The first thing homeowners need to determine is whether they’d be able to add an in-law suite to their property at all. City and municipal zoning ordinances and permitting requirements can get in the way of this type of construction or renovation, particularly if someone wants to build or convert a space that’s not attached to the main house, such as this garage unit.

In the case of a separate structure (also known as an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU), many cities forbid or carefully restrict additional plumbing or gas lines, among other features. David Schultz of Denver-based L&D Construction, which specializes in ADUs, suggests checking with your local zoning office or a local architect or builder to see what’s doable.

If you plan to convert a garage, basement or other existing area of your home, some of those same limitations might apply. Additionally, thinking through practical issues like which spaces would require the fewest structural adjustments (is there already a half bath nearby that can be expanded to a full?) and what area of your property would lend itself best to an aging resident (an attic may be difficult to get up to, for instance) is essential.

Is an in-law unit right for your property?

Some city zoning rules require these kinds of build-outs to include a door to the outside, making a space like a garage or walk-out basement a logical conversion option. Even if it’s not required, though, creating a separate entrance for your loved one allows them to have proximity to you but maintain an important degree of independence.

“It’s great to have family live with you, but you always need some type of separation because that way you love your family longer,” says Curt Kiriu of Hawaii-based CK Independent Living Builders. “Everybody needs their private space.”

2. What Accessibility Concerns Need to Be Addressed?

As a certified aging-in-place specialist, Kiriu speaks with groups and works with clients to ensure homeowners recognize and remedy any potential home hazards or challenges for aging residents, whether it’s for their own safety or the safety of a live-in relative. When adding an in-law suite, he says, homeowners should be thinking through everything from including reinforced walls and grab bars like these in the shower to choosing mood-boosting paint colors. And it’s easiest to make these adjustments early on in the process, even if a parent doesn’t currently have mobility or cognitive problems.

“You want to do it when you first do any type of construction,” he says. “When the walls are open it’s much easier to put in blocking between the studs than it is tearing everything up.”

Following the principles of universal design — which Kiriu says he’s seeing more in his work — will also help incorporate pieces and structures that everyone can use now and in the future.

Other aging-friendly design choices include flooring that’s not too slippery and not too textured (Kiriu likes vinyl planks like the kind seen here and closely cropped carpet), minimal clutter, doors and hallways that are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers, lipless showers to prevent tripping and low-maintenance everything.

“As a caregiver, the one thing you have is no time to clean,” he says. “And people want to age and live independently for their life, they don’t want to spend [their time] cleaning and scrubbing and wiping glass.”

Each family is different, and elderly parents dealing with specific health concerns like dementia or Parkinson’s disease will need specific features. Busy patterns can be disorienting for dementia patients, for instance, and an alarm system might be smart for a parent with Alzheimer’s who’s prone to wandering. Again, laying the groundwork early to add those types of amenities later on is a good bet, Kiriu says.

“Nobody thinks about getting old so nobody plans for it,” he says. “And then when something happens, it’s a reaction. They’re not proactive about it.”

3. What’s Your Long-Term Plan?

Maybe your parents aren’t ready to move in with you but you’d like to keep the option open in the future. Are there other things you could do with the space in the meantime? Are you able to rent it out? Use it as an office or guest room like the one seen here? Could it work as an apartment for your own adult children in a few years? What do you plan to do with it if your parent moves into an assisted-living facility or passes away?

In the case of this attached garage turned in-law living quarters in New York, the homeowners worked with Clawson Architects to plan the space so it could eventually be absorbed back into the main house as a family room or library. In other projects, architect René Clawson says her team has purposefully planned new powder rooms next to closets in case the homeowners ever decide to create a space like this and need the option of a full first-floor bathroom.

Along with planning ahead, Clawson advises clients to consider the flexibility these spaces afford. Even if your parents don’t plan to move in permanently, a separate suite might make sense for frequent longer visits, particularly if they’re visiting from far away.

4. Does It Make Financial Sense?

Accessory dwelling units in particular present some financial challenges. Because many cities don’t have a lot of them for comparison, it can be harder to get financing for their construction, Schultz says.

“Usually this is the first time [homeowners have] ever built something or developed anything in their life, and it’s a pretty daunting process,” he says.

Depending on the scope of the work you plan to do and where you live, in-law suite additions or renovations typically cost anywhere from $10,000 for a converted space to $300,000 or more for an ADU.

It’s a significant investment, but Kiriu says it can also be a wise one. It may be a more affordable option than long-term nursing care, for one thing. In a 2017 report, insurance provider Genworth Financial found that the national average cost for semi-private and private nursing home rooms has continued to grow in recent years, with private rooms costing nearly $8,000 a month.

Kiriu also notes that when these suites are built using universal design, they may make a home more valuable down the road, as there are so few houses available that are accessible to everyone.

5. Is It a Good Fit for Your Family?

Even if you have the ideal house for it, the in-law suite setup isn’t right for everyone. It can be a lot for an adult child to take on emotionally and it could create family strife. The National Council on Aging found that 75 percent of the older adults they surveyed in 2015 said they intend to stay in their own current home for the rest of their lives, so your parent may not even want to make a move or may feel more comfortable elsewhere.

Communication and talking through all the ways this type of change will affect all members of the family is key.

Sincerely,

ERA Skyline Real Estate

3376 Harrison Blvd.

Ogden, UT 84403

(801)627-6500

Dream to Done: How to Build a Renovation Plan to Match Your Budget

Hello Friends,

As a client, you may feel like you have little influence over whether your remodeling project stays on budget and hits the finish line on time. But you have more control than you might think. Remember, the scope of your project and the specific materials are up to you.

The key to keeping a project on budget and on schedule is nailing down the details before ground breaks. If you’ve never renovated or built a new home, you may not be sure about how the seed of an idea turns into a completed project. Here’s a road map for two early steps: putting together your renovation team and nailing down your project’s cost.

Who Will Help You Build Your Vision?

Before you meet with a professional, you should know what you want to accomplish. Is your goal to tear out your entire kitchen and start fresh? Or are you looking for less costly upgrades, perhaps replacing cabinet fronts and a tired backsplash? Or do you want to remodel your whole house?

Some homeowners know only that the current home isn’t working for them but aren’t sure how to fix it. If you are in this group, you may decide to work with professionals who can help you develop a plan and advise you on cost. A recent survey showed that 85 percent of Houzzers who renovated in 2015 did so with professional help. The survey covered 120,000 registered Houzz users, including 70,000 who renovated.

What Exactly Do Pros Do?

The most important documents you will need are the construction plans. Your building plans must be approved by an agency to make sure the home is safe and meets local codes. So unless you are familiar with building codes and construction methods, you will want to hire a professional to draft these plans. Rules for which pros can draft plans vary by state (and in some states by county or municipality) and with the size and type of project. Look to the local building department or the professionals you contact to explain the rules in your area.

Each profession has its special emphasis. Architects and interior designers create concepts and draw plans. General contractors build the plans. Landscape architects create designs and plans for outdoor spaces. Design-build firms offer both design and building services, some with in-house architects, others by contracting the design work out. 

Houzzers who remodeled in 2015 said the most valuable contributions of general contractors and design-build firms were delivering a quality result, finding the right products and materials, staying on budget and managing the project.

Architects, interior designers, and kitchen and bath designers were appreciated for helping clients integrate their personal style into the design. Houzzers valued architects for understanding and complying with local building codes, and interior designers for finding the right products or materials. But these are only their most-appreciated contributions; each profession has a wide range of skills and resources to offer owners.

Ask About Options

Many pros offer a range of services, from initial design to project management, which may be priced as menu options or charged at per-hour rates. For just one example, architects can provide evaluation and planning services, which can involve site analysis and selection, economic feasibility studies and helping you determine what you want, need and are willing to pay for.

Architecture firms offer design services, including documents that define the space’s shape, and they may work closely with engineers as needed in relationship to the structural elements. They also may offer construction management services, involving consulting and coordinating with the various agencies overseeing your project, or manage the bidding process when you search for the right contractor. These are just a handful of the services your architect may provide, so it is worth asking about pricing and what is involved as you shop around. This AIA guide can be helpful. Also, there could be some overlap in the menus of services provided by the different pros, so be sure that you are clear on what you need and what services each will perform.

Even if you are not planning to hire a professional to design or manage your renovation, you may want to hire a pro on a per-hour basis to help you refine your ideas. “A small percentage of upfront money with a professional can really help clarify the scope of the project and the budget before you get too involved,” says John Firmin, general contractor at Build-A-Home Inc., in Fayetteville, Arkansas, who founded the firm 16 years ago.

Select Your First Team Member

When hiring your first design team member, you can start with a builder, architect, designer, design-build firm or remodeler, depending on your needs and priorities. If you already know a contractor whose work you like, he or she will probably have a list of architects and interior designers to recommend. That is also true if you start with other pros. You also can use Houzz’s directory to find individual professionals, see their past projects and read client reviews.

Narrow your list down to your favorites and then interview a few people. Ask for — and check — references, and drive out to see past projects. Also, see how it might feel to work together — make sure you have a rapport with the professional. You should find out whether they listen and whether they are good communicators, says Jon Dick, an architect with Archaeo Architects in Santa Fe, New Mexico, who has been practicing 30 years and worked on more than 100 homes. “Their design ability is very important,” Dick says. “But it’s also a long-term relationship. They’re going to ask pretty personal questions and know a fair amount about you.”

You should follow this same basic process with an interior designer, landscape architect, general contractor or design-build firm. Keep in mind that the average kitchen remodel takes about five months once construction starts, but three times that long from initial design phase to completion, according to a recent Houzz survey. So the professionals you hire should be people you like and can communicate with. 

Whether to Hire One Pro — or More

Which pros and how many you hire is up to you. Among Houzzers who hired pros for their renovation projects last year, nearly half hired a general contractor, builder, kitchen or bath remodeler, or design-build firm — the professionals who actually build the project. About 20 percent employed an architect, interior designer or kitchen and bath designer.

Thanks so much,

ERA Skyline Real Estate

3376 Harrison Blvd.

Ogden, UT 84403

(801)627-6500