Considerations When Adding an In-Law Suite

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By Jim Long, S&J Properties, General Contractor, Resident since 1991

Multigenerational households are on the rise, but there’s a lot to consider when dreaming up a new space for mom or dad. 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. 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 you can ponder before getting to work.

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. 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.

What Accessibility Concerns Need to Be Addressed? When adding an in-law suite, homeowners should be thinking through everything from including reinforced walls and grab bars to choosing mood-boosting paint colors. Other aging friendly design choices include flooring that’s not too slippery and not too textured 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.

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? 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 assistedliving facility or passes away? Along with planning ahead, 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.

Does It Make Financial Sense? Accessory dwelling units present some financial challenges because many cities don’t have a lot of them for comparison, making it harder to get financing for their construction. It’s a

significant investment, but it can also be a wise one. It may be a more affordable option than long-term nursing care. 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. When these suites are built using a universal design, they may make a home more valuable down the road, as there are so few houses available that are accessible to everyone.

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

If you are thinking of new remodeling ideas, getting the help from a qualified professional builder is worth the investment and long run value.

Jim Long

S&J Properties is a Design/Build company that specializes in residential and commercial remodeling construction projects. By performing both the design and construction, we provide the most beautiful, long-lasting and highest value remodeling projects in the industry. Our

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