Ben Franklin famously remarked that house guests are similar to fish—they start to stink after three days. If you’ve ever had house guests, you know how stressful it can be sometimes.
What if you love having friends and family over, but you also love your independence? The answer is simple—build a mother-in-law suite for your home.
This is a self-contained structure, usually with a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and living area, along with a separate entrance from the main home. It could be a small cottage in the backyard, a renovated basement, or another smaller home on your property.
There are plenty of great reasons to invest in one—keep reading to find eight benefits of building and owning a mother-in-law suite.
- Privacy
You’re thinking of moving your elderly in-laws to your home—but you know you’ll drive each other crazy if you’re together all the time!
Adding a separate living space is a fantastic way to manage living with aging parents while still letting your family and the in-laws remain their own privacy and dignity. You’re close enough to help them and check in on them daily, but they can still enjoy a feeling of independent living, without needing to share a kitchen or bathroom with your family.
Plus, privacy is sure to be welcomed whenever you have friends or family visiting and want to be able to give them more privacy than a guest room would offer.
- Increase the Value of Your Home
Another top benefit of added living space is to the value of your home. Building a mother-in-law suite is sure to add value to your home, as you’re effectively adding a studio apartment to your home.
Many buyers love the idea of having a private space for parents, older children, or entertaining, and they’re willing to pay a premium for this convenience. They also aren’t incredibly common, so they give your home a unique advantage for real estate marketing purposes.
- Additional Storage Space
Ever feel like there’s just not enough room for everything you own? If your home is small and doesn’t have a basement or much storage, then it can be a challenge to find a home for all your belongings.
A mother-in-law suite provides ample storage space for extra furniture, boxes, or tools. You can use your unit for storage whenever you don’t have guests staying there.
It’s a useful way to reduce clutter from your home and give yourself more liveable space.
- Long-Term Rental Property
Looking for a way to bring in some extra income? You can rent out your suite night by night, on a site like Airbnb, or to a long-term tenant.
Many singles and couples love mother-in-law-suites, as they offer privacy, generally at a lower cost than most apartments. Building one in your home is sure to bring in valuable rental income.
To find out how much you might be able to rent your suite for, research current rental prices in your area for studios and one-bedrooms. If your renters also have access to other features on your property, like a swimming pool or home gym, this can increase its value.
- Help Relatives Avoid Hotel Costs
Do you frequently have out of town friends and family come to visit? If so, they’re probably used to paying for a hotel each time they come to visit.
By offering them a place to stay, you’ll help them save on hotel and travel costs. If they’re on a tight budget, having somewhere free to stay might even mean that they’re able to visit more often.
- More Independence for Older Children
If you have older high school or college kids living at home, then you’re aware of the frustrations that can come from living with your adult children. Living at home can help them save money for their future, but it also means they’re under your roof all the time!
With a mother-in-law suite, you can provide them with a private, safe place for your child to live—without having to fight over the TV remote each night!
- Versatility
Another great reason to build your suite is for versatility. Having an extra building on your property opens up plenty of options.
You can use the space for just about anything—an art studio, man cave, home office, or playroom. Homeowners appreciate having the extra space to use for work, studying, or hobbies.
To learn more about great reasons to add a mother-in-law suite, check out this link: https://actonadu.com/blog/why-build-a-mother-in-law-suite-for-your-in-laws.
- Added Square Footage to Home
If you’re thinking about expanding your house, one of the best home projects is building an in-law suite. It adds valuable square footage to your home, which is fantastic if you’re thinking about selling.
Even if the structure is separate from your home, it still counts toward the square footage of your home. This is great for property values and also gives you more usable space for enjoying your home and time with family and friends.
Start Enjoying These Benefits of a Mother-in-Law Suite
With so many advantages to building a mother-in-law suite, why not add one to your home? Whether you convert a basement or build a standalone structure, you’re sure to love the convenience and flexibility they bring.
To get started, look for experienced architects and contractors in your area who specialize in this type of work. Then, contact them for an estimate on the project.
Soon, your new mother-in-law suite will be ready and friends and family will be lining up to visit!
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