Help with small home on property

[kf4uda]

Here are some park model RVs on RV Trader for sale.

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[old and tired]

Park model RV, the original tiny home!! (I'm joking a wee bit....). Have you looked into putting in an elevator or the chairs that run up the stairwell.

Your home might seem bigger when the kids leave but at my parents house, with everyone coming home for the holidays... it got pretty tight.

We thought about finishing the basement for a live-in nurse, then when we pass away, she could have the place (but then thought we would last about one day and she would have a nice house :laughing

 

[wngsprd]

Sig, nearly every month there are a number of ads in our Electric Coop magazine that basically say "we'll build this house on your property for $X" and a photo of an attractive house at a very good price...no details, of course. I just pulled this month's magazine out of the recycle box and flipped through it to get names for you to check out...but no ads! I don't know if it's due to the holiday, or the higher costs of building materials, but only one ad for a garage builder.

One thing to consider, which you probably have, is how close you live to emergency medical care. We calculated how long it would take just for volunteer rescue squad to arrive, and then the long trip to a hospital, and ruled out our place for elderly parents with any serious medical conditions. I don't know much about COPD, and whether it can lead to a critical emergency.

 

[Sigarms]

I'm building a house and garage/shop/apt., 2 buildings. The apt added to the garage/shop was a big mistake. I really don't ever see having a use for it, just seemed like a good idea at the time.

I would urge you to work with the local zoning and permitting folks. Here in the wasteland all my buddies suggested i just build it after i'm all done with insp etc. That's common. No one ever is gonna ever know.

Nowadays, if your children ever choose to sell the property and the health dept comes to visit and finds an unpermitted apt. you are in trouble. $$$$

I believe the days of hiding it are long gone. The tax assessor has aerial photos of my house going up!

My buddy has been doing that kinda thing for years and his son is going to have a can of worms on his hands when it comes time to sell.

Good luck and good on Ya!

Zoning in NC, what are you, a da*m yankee? :laughing:

Seriously, whatever we do, we will make certain everything is above board.

The reality is in our own NC county, people complained about a $45 tax annually to use the transfer stations at no charge after you paid your tax, and that was a whole lot cheaper than the $25 or so a month fee for private sector pick up of trash (which left me scratching my head why people couldn't see that). I don't see zoning as being a ballbuster money wise to ensure everything is done right and above board.

At this point, we're looking for SMALL, single story only, minimal steps in, and at this point, because it's something separate from our main house, something that can be removed down the road if that's what's wanted done by prospective buyers if something like that isn't needed by the buyer (muy line of thinking is small, unique and nice looking has a better resale value with the main house over a mobile home added onto the property).

The added reality is if we go cheap with mobile home on property, could be a pain to move which comes into selling on our end down the road. If we actually build, we're in the same boat. What works for us now may not work for a family wanting to buy down the road for their needs as far as if we decide to build something that can't be removed.

In a perfect world, the best bet is to sell the house "as is". We could spend big bucks for a newer built small home, but I'm thinking small, movable space is most likely the best investment for what we have to deal with now for our potential predicament.

We have no clue what the future holds, we're only trying to pre plan so worst case scenario we aren't running around like chickens with their head cut off at the last minute. Kind of like buying a car, you look for one when you don't HAVE to have one, you start looking because you know that day is going to come.

Anything we do won't happen to at least summer of next year unless things go downhill fast, which I pray won't happen.

 

[Sigarms]

Sig, nearly every month there are a number of ads in our Electric Coop magazine that basically say "we'll build this house on your property for $X" and a photo of an attractive house at a very good price...no details, of course. I just pulled this month's magazine out of the recycle box and flipped through it to get names for you to check out...but no ads! I don't know if it's due to the holiday, or the higher costs of building materials, but only one ad for a garage builder.

One thing to consider, which you probably have, is how close you live to emergency medical care. We calculated how long it would take just for volunteer rescue squad to arrive, and then the long trip to a hospital, and ruled out our place for elderly parents with any serious medical conditions. I don't know much about COPD, and whether it can lead to a critical emergency.

I'll need to look at our electric co op magazine next time it comes in, thank you for the additional potential source.

For medical, when I drove my dad to the VA for healthcare, it was only like a 40 minute drive max. Reality is, we have two pretty good major medical centers only about 25 minutes away in the next county over. Even though my inlaws are an hour south of us now, they're in the same boat where they're living now, although my FIL had to be transported to Charlotte for "upgraded" care for his emergeny procedure when they couldn't do it comfortably in Salisbury.

The question becomes what is an accepted drive time for emergency medical care?

Other question becomes "quality of life"? Getting old is no fun...

 

[EddieWalker]

Not knowing what your current house is like, or your floor plan, but understanding what it takes to build a small house, or add another building to a property that you are hoping to sell in the future, I would seriously look really hard at ways to modify your current house to accommodate your inlaws. Having them under the same roof as you solves a lot of problems, but of course, it creates privacy issues too. Considering that you have budgeted a significant amount of money to build something, or buy something, I think you could do a serious remodel for a lot less money, and then undo the remodel if you wanted when it's time to sell, for a lot less then building something new.

Another option that I really don't care for, but it might be worth considering is a pier and beam type structure that does not level the ground. Basically you build a wood deck on the sloped land and then add walls and a roof to it. To me, this is more of a temporary type structure, but in all reality, if done well, you can have a significant savings on your foundation if you are willing to live with a wood foundation instead of a concrete slab. To save even more money, you can side it with 4x8 sheets of Smart Siding.

I mentioned ADA earlier, and was corrected on my terminology, my point is that you really want the bathroom for elderly people to be as user friendly for elderly people as possible. You will NOT find this any anything premade. Wide doorways, no steps, enough room around the toilet and shower for a walker or wheel chair. And lots of grab bars!!!!!

I just replaced a 24 inch bathroom door with a 32 inch door for a 91 year old lady that just moved in with her daughter because she had a fall and she can no longer walk or get around without a walker. When you are this old, and you have had a fall, nothing is more important then being able to get into the bathroom!!!!

 

[kf4uda]

I don't know what is available in your area but we pay a membership to an air evac service. It is $85 per year and will land in our yard (we have the open space) if need be.

Air Evac Lifeteam | Air Medical Ambulance Service

 

[TheMan419]

If it is just the stairs up from the basement are an issue, what about one of those chairs you sit on and it moves on a rail up and down the stairs?

 

[bdeboer]

My ex brother in law built a stick framed a 24x30 garage on a slab. They put the header in for the garage door and then framed the opening in for a couple Windows, with the idea it could be later be converted back to a garage. It had a bedroom, full bath and a small kitchen. The utilities and plumbing were pretty much at one end.

 

[Oaktree]

Yep. I'll second all of that. Slab on grade beats any other type of wood + foundation cost wise.

Depends on where you live. I'd imagine in Tenn. accommodation to frost is of minimal concern. If you live where the ground freezes in winter, a slab costs as much if not more than a foundation since you still have to set footings below the frost line, and your floors will always be cold since it's right on the ground.

 

[Oaktree]

I just replaced a 24 inch bathroom door with a 32 inch door for a 91 year old lady that just moved in with her daughter because she had a fall and she can no longer walk or get around without a walker. When you are this old, and you have had a fall, nothing is more important then being able to get into the bathroom!!!!

24"?? Wow, that's narrow for anything but a closet. Even on my 200 year old house all the doorways are at least 30".

 

[3Ts]

24"?? Wow, that's narrow for anything but a closet. Even on my 200 year old house all the doorways are at least 30".

Unfortunately, even brand new houses don't use 30" doors everywhere. One would think that 24" would be the minimum, but I found a model house for a community that had 18" wide passages (just an archway, no door) and 12" doors to the coat closet in the foyer. I suspect young new home buyers would not notice that, but I sure did since I didn't fit very well. For some reason I can't squeeze between the 16" on center studs like I used to be able to do.

 

[Sigarms]

What about something like: amish made cabins out of shepardsville, ky. They deliver 200 miles free and $3.5 a mile after that. You need a pad and to hook up water, sewer and electric.

Very nice source, thank you.

 

[Sigarms]

I can't offer any advice here but this family is very lucky to have you for a son and son in law. Good luck in your search and caring for these parents.

The irony is my father and I came close to killing each other during my teen years and my future MIL scared the bejesus out of me the first time when I met her when she asked me if I had accpeted Jesus Christ as my Savior (thought I was looking at getting in with a bunch of holly rollers) :laughing:

 

[Sigarms]

Small log cabin kit? Let me know if you need some advice, I'd be more than happy to help you out. BTW, have you checked with zoning? Make sure you can do what you want... Above posts are some good advice.

I may be sending you off an email depending on how things play out.

 

[Sigarms]

Park model RV, the original tiny home!! (I'm joking a wee bit....). Have you looked into putting in an elevator or the chairs that run up the stairwell.

Your home might seem bigger when the kids leave but at my parents house, with everyone coming home for the holidays... it got pretty tight.

We thought about finishing the basement for a live-in nurse, then when we pass away, she could have the place (but then thought we would last about one day and she would have a nice house :laughing

Down the basement from the living room, the stairs corner 180 degrees. Don't think a chair would work and I'd have to look, but could look at a elevator, but due to house layout, I'm scratching me head over where it would go and costs.

 

[Sigarms]

Not knowing what your current house is like, or your floor plan, but understanding what it takes to build a small house, or add another building to a property that you are hoping to sell in the future, I would seriously look really hard at ways to modify your current house to accommodate your inlaws. Having them under the same roof as you solves a lot of problems, but of course, it creates privacy issues too. Considering that you have budgeted a significant amount of money to build something, or buy something, I think you could do a serious remodel for a lot less money, and then undo the remodel if you wanted when it's time to sell, for a lot less then building something new.

Eddie, some years ago we looked at adding an additional bedroom when we were foster parents. House layout is interesting design with open ceilings on the first floor (lots of wasted paste). Only place for the extra room was upstairs and that would of killed the open layout on the first floor and really enlosed the first level which we weren't certain we'd be happy with after when done. Place to remodel would be on the first floor, but without going into details, I'm thinking there would be no clear cut solution due to the layout with the sheer amount of window space going around the house in the main living room with fireplace.

What kind of sucks is when the boys move out, their bedrooms are upstairs with us, which puts the stairs back into play for the inlaws.

However, your idea made make me think of using our attached garage (never pushed that point where we had to think about it). Only about 500 sqaure ft, but it could be a possibility as we do have water out there added you go through the kitchen door to access it (it would be easy to heat or cool which is the one thing I could do myself). Washer and dryer is in a small laundry room right from the access door to the garage from kitchen. The reality is we never used the garage anyway for cars until my dad moved in, and he likes a garage for his car, so that's where it gets parked. We could always look at a garage or carport downn the road if we look at that route.

Agreed about the bathroom for older people. I've asked my dad if he'd like the shower/bath tub taken out in the basement and replaced with somthing more easily accessible and I still get a no, even though I think he could use something esier to use.

At this point I'm just being proactive in actually starting to look for ideas. The reality is my FIL could bounce back and the issue isn't on the hotplate. I'm looking at this like buying a vehicle, the time to look is when you don't need one but you know sooner or later in the future you will.

Then we also have my own father to consider. Reality is he's pushing 90 and the sad reality is if he doesn't make it another year, we have the basement as not a perfect option for inlaws, but a mid term option which buys us time, or we could even look at the garage for my father being he's alone.

The perfect solution for both inlaws and my dad would be single structure, no stairs period.

Other option (probably the easiest) is to find something local in our area for rent for the inlaws. They would be a long term rent related to their health, would be great renters, and the landlord would never have to worry about rent money or damaging the property. When I was single and moved around, people loved me to rent because I always paid, never bothered anyone, took care of where I lived and generally was never home. Came to the conclusion that good renters can be hard to find which does favor my inlaws.

Edit, a picture is worth a thousand words. Gives you an idea of what we're looking at working with on the first floor alogn with stairs to basement...

 

[shooterdon]

Folks here will build a pole barn or metal building and have it taxes as a barn. Then finish the inside. One of the premier hunting camps in the area did that and I was astonished at how the interior came out.

 

[Frankenkubota]

Unfortunately, even brand new houses don't use 30" doors everywhere. One would think that 24" would be the minimum, but I found a model house for a community that had 18" wide passages (just an archway, no door) and 12" doors to the coat closet in the foyer. I suspect young new home buyers would not notice that, but I sure did since I didn't fit very well. For some reason I can't squeeze between the 16" on center studs like I used to be able to do.

Big doors are expensive! I'm building right now and have purchased semi hi end brand name exterior and interior doors. I have 10 ft ceilings so i went all with 8 ft door$. Then i figured some day i might be in a wheel chair so i went with 36 in wide door$, everywhere. Not nearly as many options when you get to doors that big.

I spent some serious $ on doors!

Speaking of trusses etc etc. I got a lesson yesterday. went to lowe’s to buy 2 attic stair/ladder assemblies, 1 for the house, 1 for the garage. They had 6-8 in stock, some wood some aluminum. They were all built for 25 in ruff opening. All 8. So i grabbed 2 of the aluminum ladders, got home and found my trusses have 22.5 in ruff opening.

I'm not blaming lowe's because i didn't do the homework but, seeing everything they had was the same, i sort of figured it was standard. My trusses are on 24 in ctrs. Apparently some zoning allows for wider spacing?

Just another return.

 

[3Ts]

Big doors are expensive! I'm building right now and have purchased semi hi end brand name exterior and interior doors. I have 10 ft ceilings so i went all with 8 ft door$. Then i figured some day i might be in a wheel chair so i went with 36 in wide door$, everywhere. Not nearly as many options when you get to doors that big.

I spent some serious $ on doors!

Speaking of trusses etc etc. I got a lesson yesterday. went to lowe’s to buy 2 attic stair/ladder assemblies, 1 for the house, 1 for the garage. They had 6-8 in stock, some wood some aluminum. They were all built for 25 in ruff opening. All 8. So i grabbed 2 of the aluminum ladders, got home and found my trusses have 22.5 in ruff opening.

I'm not blaming lowe's because i didn't do the homework but, seeing everything they had was the same, i sort of figured it was standard. My trusses are on 24 in ctrs. Apparently some zoning allows for wider spacing?

Just another return.

The 22.5" rough opening is 24" on center. There is also a 19.2" on center and a 16" on center spacing. I'm surprised at the 25" spacing - I've never encountered that before.

As for doors, I have 3'x 8' doors everywhere (I have 10' ceilings) and the builder charged me something like $2k for 12 doors. However, they all seem to be pressed hardboard with a wood spacer around the edge so I'll be replacing the exterior doors with something more substantial and then figure out what to do with the interior doors.

BTW - if i had it to do over again, I'd use a 42" wide door for the front door. The proportions would look better from the outside on our house and is also a "standard" size.