What is a mother-in-law apartment?
Often the mother-in-law apartment is called a mother-in-law suite, guest house, or in-law suite. These spaces could be a finished basement, a converted garage, or a detached guest house. They typically include a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and a separate entrance from the main house.
It may also be considered as an accessory dwelling unit (or ADU). If it is a secondary dwelling unit completely separate from the main home (ie, has a kitchen, bathroom, etc.) and is located on the same property. ADUs can be joined or separated and are often rented to tenants.
What are the advantages of having a mother-in-law apartment?
Buying a house with a mother-in-law apartment (or building one yourself) has its benefits. These are the main reasons why owners want to have a mother-in-law apartment on their property:
- The first (and most common) benefit of adding a mother-in-law apartment is to house a babysitter, an older parent, or another family member. This is a great low-cost alternative to not having to pay your expensive housing costs.
In addition, the proximity and comfort of a mother-in-law apartment allows the owner to live close to the occupant while retaining their own separate living space.
- Second, having a separate dwelling on your property is helpful when you’re entertaining.
If you feel that your home has become a bed-and-breakfast due to the multitude of visitors, adding a separate guest house to your current home will certainly make your life easier. Guests will have their own private rooms, meaning you will have complete privacy as well.
- A third benefit of having a mother-in-law apartment on your property is additional storage space. Those without a garage or storage unit will benefit from having a large storage area, where they can put extra furniture, large sports equipment, and seasonal items.
- The fourth benefit of owning a mother-in-law apartment is potential rental income. Many homeowners rent these second homes to help pay for home renovations, family vacations, and general day-to-day expenses.
Renting a guest house is a great way to earn extra passive income on a monthly basis.
What are the disadvantages of owning a mother-in-law unit?
Of course, the mother-in-law apartments are not suitable for everyone. Here are a few reasons why you might not want an ADU.
- One of the main drawbacks of adding a separate guest house to your home is the high cost of utilities. Think about it: In addition to heating and cooling your own home, you now also have to pay to heat and cool your guesthouse.
Not to mention, you will almost certainly have a higher water bill as well as higher energy costs.
- A second reason many should think twice about building a mother-in-law suite is that it can mean dealing with city zoning regulations and strict building codes.
If the main house is located in a historic district, this addition will be even more difficult to pull off.
- Insurance costs are a third drawback of owning a mother-in-law apartment. You’ll need to check to see if your current homeowner’s insurance policy will also cover an accessory dwelling unit.
If you rent it out, you may need to purchase additional insurance to adequately protect your home.
- A fourth drawback of owning a mother-in-law apartment is that there will be more daily maintenance. From cleaning toilets and vacuuming floors to cleaning gutters and replacing light bulbs, running a guest house can be time-consuming and expensive.
Many find that the costs and ongoing maintenance do not outweigh the benefits of owning a mother-in-law apartment.
Apartment design ideas for ADUs
Designing the mother-in-law apartment is one of the most exciting aspects of building a backyard unit. During this stage, you have the opportunity to create a home that meets all your needs.
Exterior
How the house looks from the outside is completely up to you. Even though there would be two separate structures, you don’t want either dwelling to look out of place.
This does not mean that the second house has to be a replica. But rather, it can be of the same style or share design elements.
Kitchen
Each mother-in-law suite has a kitchen. Making arrangements like induction and electric cooktops with safety measures can help seniors stay safe.
A small-scale kitchen or kitchenette is better than not having a kitchen when it comes to adding value to your home.
Living room
The living room will give your guests a place to relax in their tiny new home. Including a living room will greatly increase the feeling that they are living in their own home rather than feeling like they are in a guest room.
Bedroom
The bedroom is perhaps the most important element of the ADU. Traditionally, these structures only feature one bedroom. You get to choose the layout and size of these rooms.
However, there will likely be requirements that you need to meet in order for this to be a legal structure that can be used for living. This may include the number of windows, including a closet, and the height of the ceiling.
Accessibility
Mobility problems often come with age. Canes, walkers, and wheelchairs are used by some elderly people to get around. Even if your guests don’t use these aids, you may want to consider accessibility.
Let us make it easier by building your backyard dream home. Contact our specialists at Victory Home Remodeling today to talk about it. Everything will be done effortlessly if you work with Victory Home Remodeling contractor in Los Angeles.
Many contractors may be willing to facilitate you with your job. But one that specializes in building backyard homes or accessory dwelling units is the best option.
Victory Home Remodeling knows the standards required to create an ADU in your backyard. Our specialization means that we know exactly what needs to be done and can meet your requirements. There are great benefits of having an ADU. But it can be useful only if it is in accordance with your needs. Victory Home Remodeling Company in Los Angeles will ensure just that.