Many things make any home we share with those we care deeply about a home. But since this is the case, we can sometimes feel like there is always something we can add or do to improve the look or functionality of our home. This is why there is so much hype around renovations, but one aspect seems to dominate here, and while many still consider it a move or a luxury addition, building a guest house does not have to be all that expensive. Yes, as with almost any building process, there will be some unplanned expenses, but that is nothing compared to what your entire backyard will look like once the guest house is up and running. Now, since this is a delicate process, let’s get into the details and focus on how to determine where to start, how long it will take to build a guest house, and what is considered optional and what is not.
Get all the necessary permits
First of all, it is important to understand that you cannot just build a guest house or install a prefabricated one in your backyard and move in. Before all of this, it is important to study the laws and obtain the necessary building permits, otherwise, you can easily face legal consequences, and in the worst case, you will have to demolish it. This step is the first for a reason, and it is important to obtain all the permits even before planning the house so that you know exactly what size you can build and can plan the house with that in mind. As for how all of this works and how long it will take, it depends on your country and state. Also, certain periods, such as spring and summer, are usually reserved for renovations, which means that many people apply for permits during these periods and it can get a bit crowded. Therefore, to avoid crowds and reduce the waiting period for all licenses, collect all the necessary documents and submit them on time, at least a month before you plan to start building your guest house.
There are three different options
Now that we have finished with the paperwork, we can focus on the goal in front of us, so when we have all the necessary permits for our guest house, it is time to choose the best option, and we have three of them. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, and we will describe them to you in more detail to make your choice easier.
1. Starting from scratch
The first option is to build a guest house from scratch, which is great because we have a lot of options. Namely, we can decide how it will look like, how many rooms it will have, and of course, we can experiment and try something new in terms of interior design. Now, while this is a great solution since only by starting and doing something from scratch can we get exactly what we want from our guest house, on the other hand, you also have to remember that this is the most expensive option for several reasons. This is the same as building a new house, only smaller, which means that we will have to pay an architect to make a design for us, buy the necessary materials, and pay workers to build it. Yes, just the mention of an architect and home builder gives you an idea of how expensive it can be. Of course, it all depends on the features and size of the guest house, but when you are starting from scratch, even hiring the right companies can be a financial burden. In addition, weather conditions must be taken into account, as adverse weather conditions make it impossible to carry out work outdoors and can cause construction to take much longer than originally planned.
2. Buying the finished one
Although at first glance this may seem like a solution with many pros and cons, if you dig deeper, there are many more benefits to buying a guest house that has already been built. Yes, there is the option of buying a guest house already built and just placing it in our backyard, and okay, it is a bit more complicated but much easier than building it from scratch. The first thing we need to do is choose the right house and make sure it fits in our backyard, which means that before making any decision we need to plan everything carefully. This is a much harder job than it seems due to the wide offer, and if you don’t know where to look and need help with this very important decision, be sure to visit ModnPods and get detailed instructions along with some tips and tricks. After choosing the ideal option, it is time to think about site preparation because it is necessary to level the backyard and install the foundation before placing the guest house.
3. Transforming the existing construction
The easiest and most cost-effective option is to transform an existing structure into the guest house of your dreams. This is the perfect way to avoid spending too much and still get a new place to call home – a guest house. This could be a garage or any similar structure that you are likely to use to store essentials, but can easily be converted into something beautiful and habitable. Keep in mind that this can be a cheaper option if there are water and sewage systems and enough windows, but the price can be significantly higher if there are not. The price depends on the amount of work that needs to be done, and this option can be either the cheapest or the most expensive. So before you make a decision, make sure to consult with experts, because if the structure you plan to renovate is not in such good condition, the whole process can end up being even more expensive than buying a guest house or building one from scratch.
Read Also: Kitchen Paint Colors, According to Designers
