Building a Garage Apartment

Building an Apartment

Overview: In these difficult economical times with prices seem rising on everything, not to mention taxes that just continue to go through the roof; a little extra cash can come in handy. If you have a single story garage it may be the ideal place for a garage apartment or build an apartment on top of it.

If you are planning to build a new garage why not consider building a garage apartment above it. Plans for apartment above a garage are readily available on line and at your local home improvement supply center.

Building a garage apartment is especially useful if you reside in a college town. College students are always looking for the ideal place to live away from crowded and noisy dorms. Many first year teachers are also looking for rental units away from the noise and the bustle of congested apartment buildings. You can even find a tenant in rural areas.

After the initial cost of building a garage with an apartment, the rent will pay off the cost in no time leaving you with a nice tidy source of additional income while you are paying it off and a lot more after it is paid off.

Garage apartment plans with an apartment above can be found in home improvement stores and on the internet. Many garage plans are based on popular house plans such as barn, and saltbox styles and come with a homey feel already included in the design. A garage apartment should be built to be met both storage and adequate comfortable living space for the tenant.

The first step before building is to ensure that you have the proper space on your property. Determine if you want it next to the house, behind the house, or attached to the house. After you have determined what type and style to build the apartment you should contact your local building code officer to determine what you need in terms of plans and requirement for an approved building. Keep in mind that in most locations you will need separate permits for the electrical and plumbing work even though you are planning on putting up the building structure yourself. Typically you will need copies of your building plan for the code officer and all the subcontractors involved.

After you have received the go ahead and have a building permit in hand, you can hire your subcontractors. In determining price estimates remember to consider appliances, flooring, paint and the costs of any little details. It's better to overestimate the total cost and have money left over than to find out you are over budget and out of funds. Keep in mind that many plan kits do not include the little touches or amenities. An adequate garage apartment should be approximately 600 square feet to provide a comfortable living space that includes a bedroom, bathroom, and living room / kitchen combination.

The cost of a 24 x 24 foot garage with an apartment above it will be approximately $50,000, depending on how much of the work you do as a DIY project. If you can do the basic structure yourself using the minimum of contractor help this cost can be reduced by approximately 20%. The total cost can be paid back in just a few years leaving you with a comfortable second income.

If you are building upon an existing structure the cost will be considerably lower. Building a second level on top of an existing is not such a difficult task. Of course you will still require the proper building permits.

Building a garage apartment is a smart way to increase your property value and provide you with additional income.

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