As your family increases in size, let’s say you’ve decided that you need more space. Most of the time, it’s a recent college grad who has moved home or a grandparent moving in. You may even decide that you want some extra income flowing in through a rental space.
In any case, what do you do? Do you add a space onto your home through a custom home addition, or do you build a guest house on your property? Each decision has its own set of pros and cons. Regardless of which choice you make, you will need to work closely with a professional residential builder. Let’s take a look at the full picture.
Building a Guest House
Guest houses are separate housing units that can be attached to a main house or separated from it. A guest house has its own kitchen and bathroom, meaning its tenants can be completely independent of those in the main house.
The number of new guest homes are on the rise as homeowners see a great opportunity for renting out small units to cost-conscious renters. They’re also commonly used to house family members, such as recent college graduates or doting grandparents, who want to be close but still autonomous.
The guest home may be small, but the undertaking is big. Just like any other building project, guest homes require serious thought and planning before construction. If you’re considering adding a guest home to your property, there are several points you must consider first.
- Zoning and Building Laws Vary by Municipality – There may be regulations on what can be built where you live and how close to your main structure it can be. Your local builder can look into these laws for you.
- Subdivisions and Homeowner Associations – While your town may allow you to build your guest home, your subdivision may not. Check before you start building.
- Home Friendly – When you are working with your residential home builder, be sure to keep others in mind when making the plans. Consider both your neighbors and those who will live in the guest house. Make changes to the building that will positively affect them while still keeping within your guidelines and budget. For instance, building the house so that the windows do not face the neighbor’s bedroom windows will likely mean a lot to both parties.
Add On to Home
Adding on to the home can be more cost effective in the long run. While still considered a home construction project, when you take on a new home addition, you are able to work from the bones of the main home. This means that instead of running new power and HVAC lines, the existing ones can simply be extended. This can save you time and money in the long run.
The one potential drawback of an addition? You’ll have new people living under your roof. Even if you give them a separate entrance to the home, there will still be shared walls and sound will carry. It’s up to you to decide whether or not this is a determining factor in your construction choice.
Whether you are looking to make an addition to your home or build a guest home, contact Vesta Homes, LLC in Nashville Tennessee. We have the knowledge and experience to get the work done to your satisfaction.
