There comes a time in every family’s life when they have to decide what they will do to take care of their family. For instance, you and your spouse may need to add a mother in-law suite to your home to help take care of family. What exactly are these suites, though, what benefits do they provide, and how can you add one to your house? Learn the answers to these questions below!
What is an In-Law Suite?
An in-law suite is basically what its name suggests – a secondary living space attached to your home or on the same property that houses family members. They are most commonly used as an option for older adults, though, as parents often need help as they age. These suites provide many benefits that make them more than worth consideration for your home. These benefits include:
- Bringing your family closer to you to ensure that they are safe
- Cutting back on renting expenses for your parents at a challenging time
- Making it easier for your children to spend time with their parents
- Creating a closer connection between you and your parents
- Adding a new addition to your home to increase its worth and value
As you can see, a high-quality in-law suite can help you out when your parents or those of your spouse need help. However, an excellent suite also benefits you by allowing your family to help you out, such as providing a small amount of rent, covering some utility costs, preparing delicious meals, or helping watch your children while you’re at work.
Where You Can Add a Secondary Suite
Creating a suite for your in-laws will require a lot of careful planning and some financial investment. You could spend anywhere from $3,000 to $100,000 on this process, though it is usually easier to cut back on some expenses using a variety of different steps and careful adjustments.
Home renovation projects like these are worth it, though, because they’ll provide an excellent place for your family to relax. And if they pass away, you can rent the secondary suite out to make a little extra cash. So it is essential to understand just a few ways you can create a secondary suite:
- Take an old unused area of your home and convert it into a second suite for your family members
- Finish your basement, add a bathroom and kitchen, and put in a bedroom
- Build an addition to your home where your family can live
- Put your family into a garage, transforming it into a living area
- Transform your attic into a place where a family can live
One approach you may want to take is to mostly turn the secondary suite into a living room and bedroom for your in-laws, with a bathroom for their day’s prep. You could then share the kitchen and dining areas to create fun and welcoming family dinners and meals that give you time together.
Or, if you need more privacy – or your in-laws want more for themselves – you can add a kitchen and dining room in the second suite. Your choices here all depend on your relationship with your in-laws and how much money you are willing to spend on making them comfortable and happy.
Finding Help for This Process
If you’re finding yourself struggling to handle this process and need someone who can help, it is not a bad idea to reach out to a team of professionals who fully understands this scenario. By working with a group of building experts, you can transform your home into a better place for everyone to live.
