All About Granny Flats

By Neil Baulch

Let's face it, a major challenge for baby boomers today is how to balance aging parents' need for greater care with the desire to preserve their independence. For a variety of reasons, it is not always possible to move parents into a growing family's home and assisted living facilities are very pricey. Why not take a page from the UK and consider Granny Flats?

Granny Flats are pretty much everything that they sound like. They are small prefabricated homes (in most cases, but kits are also available) that you are ready to drop into a location for someone to live in. Most backyards will provide more than enough space to have this new dwelling plopped right down.

If more than one person will be living in this new cottage, there are other kits that are available to be built that will more than do the job. While the basic "Willow" model is available for under $50,000, the larger versions can be had for under $10,000 more and feature more rooms and better features.

Granny Flats are available both in pre-fabricated and kit forms. Smaller cabins like the "Willow" are usually pre-fabricated. Larger units with two or more bedrooms are generally kits. All options can be modified to accommodate wheelchair access. Customization to fit specific needs is also available.

Quoted costs include the complete living unit ready for move-in, with full kitchen, windows and bath ready for use. The price does not include necessary governmental permits, soil testing and transportation costs. An electrician and plumber will be needed for hook-ups. Generally all of these can be accomplished in the $5 to $10k range.

Remember that Granny Flats aren't just for elderly relatives. The largest cabin is basically a small home with two or more bedrooms. These units could be the perfect size for a vacation home at the lake or in the mountains. - 31366

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