[quote=Ren]Do you mind if I ask how much you paid to build it, not including the slope work?
We’re going to stuff the MIL into the guest house (I kid, she’s mostly nice and sane compared to many MILs). I’ve come to the conclusion that a separate building with its own kitchen and living area is far more desirable than just a downstairs bedroom/bath for that purpose. I don’t want to cramp the kids’ style with an elderly person being a fixture in the living room during all of their teen years, and she needs a place where she can have peace and quiet without feeling like a prisoner. My wife and I both want our house to be the place where all the kids come to hang out, so we know what they’re up to.
Another good thing about a separate apartment is that once the MIL moves on, a nicely upgraded 700-800sf guest house in Carlsbad would easily pull in $1,400/month in today’s dollars.
Another reason for needing a big, level lot is the over-the-top lagoon-style saltwater pool. I have big plans for that pool – a beach entry, natural rock surrounding it, a shallow cave behind a waterfall, a swim up bar. It will be ridiculously expensive, but I hope to do some of the work myself.[/quote]
What we paid is not typical… we had contractor problems. We also were bidding it out in 2007 when contractors were less hungry than now.
You should be able to do something for $200/sf from what I’m seeing with friends additions. So for 700sf, you’re looking at $140k. Russell can probably give you a better estimate, I believe he’s a contractor and has been building some apartments etc at his compound. 😉
Grading definitely added a lot of $ for us – we had to have civil engineering involved for drainage, structural engineering for the retaining walls… if you have a level building site you won’t have these costs.
Your planned pool sounds fantastic – be sure to host a Piggs party when you finally build it. 😉
