How to Plan the Construction of Your Mother-In-Law Apartment

The point of building a mother-in-law apartment is to have your older parents close enough while still giving them a sense of privacy and independence. To strike the right balance, plan for its construction using the tips outlined below.

Locate the Place to Construct it

The very first thing you need to do is to pick the area where you will have it constructed. This could be the garage that you will repurpose or a spot in your backyard where you will construct a new building. Just make sure you know where the pipes are before you start breaking ground, and make sure that the construction works with the layout of your yard. With 29% of people receiving care living with a family caregiver, you want to create room for your parents to age in a place they’re likely to feel comfortable and enjoy being in.

Get the Necessary Approvals

Before you start working, first find out the approvals you need to have in order to make sure your structure fully complies with the law. Do searches online and ask friends and family who have done construction recently. This is important, as the regulations sometimes change from what was commonly known, and you don’t want to end up working with an assumption that could be wrong. Find out what you need so that you can prepare for it well in advance and you don’t end up having to stall when you’re ready to commence.

Look for Design Ideas Online

While a mother-in-law apartment is generally a simple structure to construct, there are more than a few good ideas depending on the specifics you need. With 68% of online experiences starting with a search engine, you will be in great company looking for ideas online. Start by outlining the necessary spaces and the rough outline of what you want to have based on the needs of your parents. From this point, search for design ideas that appeal to you and then get to work realizing them. When you do this, you will get an amazing space that will work perfectly for the purposes you need it for.

Find Good Contractors

Another important step to take is to look for good contractors with whom you can work. If you can get referrals, you will have an easier time, as you will be working with people whose quality has been verified and there’s no doubt about their abilities. Alternatively, ask people you know and search online, shopping around rather than settling for the first contractor you come across. When you do this, you will be more likely to end up with a contractor whose standards and budget will fully meet your needs.

Set a Budget

Finally, having a budget is an important part of any plan you may have. This is because your budget will determine what you can do and what you can’t, and you will know what’s off-limits as far as finishes and fixtures go. There’s a wealth of information to be found in different sources; for instance, according to Houzz, remodeling a master bathroom can cost you an average of $11,700. As much as it’s difficult to stay within budget while doing construction and remodeling, you need to try your best to ensure you don’t bypass it, as things can get out of hand fast.

Using these tips, you can successfully plan for the construction of your mother-in-law apartment, making it possible to have your kids and parents around for a big, happy family!