Au pair/in-law suite above detached garage?

[Anonymous]

We need an au pair/in-law suite, and we are thinking of putting it on top of our detached garage. This would involve tearing down and rebuilding our existing garage, because there's no way the current structure could support that load. We're thinking about something that would resemble a studio apartment -- full bath, small kitchen, etc.

We're trying to get a ballpark sense of cost. Yes, we know that cost depends on a million variables, but we're just trying to get a general sense of feasibility. Especially interested in first-hand feedback.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

$200,000 for basic unit. Permits, fixtures, flooring, and more extra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$200,000 for basic unit. Permits, fixtures, flooring, and more extra.

sounds terrible

[Anonymous]

there's a high chance you're in the 100-150K range, depending on tear down and site prep, and finishes inside. you're basically talking about building a mini house with all the features, writ small.

[Anonymous]

We are having our one car detached garage torn down and the estimates are about $20k. No clue how much it would be to rebuild

[Anonymous]

Zoning alert! Are you sure your area will allow it? A lot of places forbid creating what is, essentially, another apartment in a lot zoned for a single family.

Make sure you can even do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$200,000 for basic unit. Permits, fixtures, flooring, and more extra.

You are insane. This would be for an INCREDIBLY high end solution.

For a normal house, say your house costs anywhere south of $2M - I would say the most this will cost you is $100K

[Anonymous]

could be $100-200k depending on site work and finishes

it's tough to get a permit for these so I'd look into that first - especially if there is a kitchen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$200,000 for basic unit. Permits, fixtures, flooring, and more extra.

You are insane. This would be for an INCREDIBLY high end solution.

For a normal house, say your house costs anywhere south of $2M - I would say the most this will cost you is $100K

The cost per sq ft is not linear

you are effectively building a small house: foundation, structure, plumbing, electrical, plumbing, bath, kitchen, flooring, exterior, etc.

[Anonymous]

Just buy a tiny house on a trailer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Zoning alert! Are you sure your area will allow it? A lot of places forbid creating what is, essentially, another apartment in a lot zoned for a single family.

Make sure you can even do this.

Plus one.

[Anonymous]

We tried this an no go. It's considered an accessory living structcure and against zoning. We ended up adjoining it to our house so it would be allowed.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the helpful advice. The zoning issue probably explains why this isn't more common.

[Anonymous]

We submitted permits that had the garage connected to the house. Once that was done we tore down the hallway connecting them. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

PP. if you ever sell your house you will probably have to rebuild the halway as your home will not comply with local zoning ordinances and you won't be able to obtain title insurance fir the non complying structure.