{"id":25295,"date":"2024-02-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=25295"},"modified":"2024-06-28T11:53:38","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T15:53:38","slug":"how-to-build-a-mother-in-law-suite-in-your-garage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.cubesmart.dev\/blog\/your-home\/how-to-build-a-mother-in-law-suite-in-your-garage\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Mother-in-Law Suite in Your Garage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Thinking of converting your garage to livable space? Learn more about how to build what’s commonly referred to as a “Mother-in-Law” suite.
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There\u2019s no question that housing options these days are both expensive and hard to find. For those of us lucky enough to have a garage, it can be tempting to imagine building a mother-in-law suite for aging parents, a son or daughter trying to start a career, or even a tenant paying market-value rent. The need is great, and the idea of keeping family members close by can be quite tempting \u2013 especially for those looking to minimize childcare costs by asking Mom and Dad to babysit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re researching mother-in-law suite ideas, you\u2019ve likely already realized the value of adding an \u201caccessory dwelling unit\u201d (ADU) to your property \u2013 and might even be getting ready to start pulling together garage apartment plans. It\u2019s a smart move: according to Realtor Magazine<\/a>, homes with ADUs can be priced up to 35% higher than those without<\/em>. That\u2019s a lot of value for the effort, not to mention the flexibility of having additional space at your disposal. At CubeSmart, we\u2019re definitely all in favor of that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep scrolling for our guide to building a mother-in-law suite in your garage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Mother-In-Law Suite?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Mother-in-law suites aren’t just for Moms. They’re a great living option for older children, guests, or even renters depending on your town’s codes.
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According to Freddie Mac<\/a>, a mother-in-law suite or ADU is \u201ca smaller, independent residential structure on the same lot as a single-family home.\u201d To be officially classified as an ADU, the unit needs a kitchen, bathroom, and separate entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While regulations vary from state to state, it\u2019s important to note that some \u2013 but not all \u2013 areas prohibit building a mother-in-law suite atop an existing garage. Why? Stability. Typically, building code requires a concrete foundation for dwellings while garages are most often built on concrete slab. That\u2019s not to say you can\u2019t tear down a garage and rebuild it with a mother-in-law suite on the second floor, but you will definitely need to add demolition costs to your budget.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know how a mother-in-law suite is defined. it\u2019s time to get down to the nitty gritty of planning one out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Plan a Mother-In-Law Suite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After a few months (or years \u2013 no judgment!) contemplating in-law suite ideas, you\u2019ll probaby be ready to start the planning process. While you can learn a lot by talking to neighbors who\u2019ve gone down the path before you, and reading articles like this one<\/a>, you will likely need to call in the professionals pretty early in the planning process. Before you take that plunge, however, consider researching the following components as much as possible to prepare yourself to understand (or even question) what the experts tell you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assessing Space and Regulations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Before you begin to build out your vision, you’ll need to know about your local building codes.
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Many state and local governments publish comprehensive building codes that establish how structures must be built and equipped, including plumbing, ventilation, and heating \/ air conditioning requirements. Often, these codes can be accessed online, though they can be hard to understand for those of us who\u2019ve never worked in the building trades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a minimum, you should be able to understand the space needed to construct a mother-in-law suite on your property \u2013 and how big that suite can be in relation to the space you have. In Denver, for instance, ADU size is based on zone lot area (i.e., if your lot is smaller than 6,000 square feet, the ADU cannot be more than 650 square feet). Long story short: Figure out what the specifications are for your neck of the woods before calling contractors.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budget Considerations (Average Cost)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you know the requirements for your town or city, you can start thinking about the not-so-fun part of building a mother-in-law suite: the cost. According to Angi<\/a>, the average cost to convert a garage into an ADU is between $20,000 and $60,000. Of course, if you live somewhere that requires a totally new building is constructed, you might end up paying hundreds of thousands of dollars more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have cash on hand, talk to a bank or other lending institution to figure out how to finance the project \u2013 and what it will cost you over the lifetime of the loan. While interest rates have jumped, they are showing signs of cooling off in 2024 which might make it the perfect time to start the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designing the Layout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Designing the basic layout is arguably the best part of building a mother-in-law suite! You will certainly need an architect to pull together (and stamp) final garage apartment plans and construction documents, but don\u2019t let that stop you from imagining the perfect layout for you and your family\u2019s needs. There are many free online layout and design tools that can get you started, so have fun with it! Let your inner architect out to play; you might be surprised at the ideas you have around organizing space<\/a> and, if you put enough thought into it, they\u2019ll likely be taken seriously by the professionals you hire to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garage Apartment Plans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There’s a possibility that your garage may need more consideration than you thought, in this case, consider bringing in a professional.
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Once you have combed through in-law suite ideas, figured out the regulations and what you can spend, and come up with a rough layout, it\u2019s time to call in the pros to pull together the garage apartment plans and take it to the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working with an Architect or Designer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First on the call list should be a number of local architects or architectural designers. Scour online review sites and ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations. You can also search for firms on the AIA website<\/a>, which maintains a comprehensive directory of American architects. Schedule meetings with at least three to get an overview of the process and outline what you would like to see in a proposal. Be sure to ask about fees, timelines, and deliverables, and if they have any specific builders that they like to work with. Forging a partnership between the architect and the builder early in the project can help it run smoother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve chosen an architect, it\u2019s time to hammer out the details. Expect this to be a collaborative process, with some degree of back and forth. A good architect will work with you to make sure your wants and needs are addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing the Right Floor Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to choosing the right floor plan, you\u2019ll likely want to add notes or revisions to the initial draft the architect presents. Think through different features you want the dwelling to have, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n