A single-story garage with living quarters can provide you with extra space for a home office, a guest room, or a play area for your kids. It can also be used as a storage area for your tools and gardening supplies. A single-story garage with living quarters is the perfect solution for anyone who needs extra space but doesn’t want to take up too much room on their property.
See also: Garage Apartment Floor Plans
The Pros and Cons of Having a Single Story Garage with Living Quarters
When it comes to deciding whether or not to build a single-story garage with living quarters, there are a few things you need to consider. Here are the pros and cons of having this type of garage on your property:
The Pros
1. Extra Space: A single-story garage with living quarters can provide you with extra space for a home office, a guest room, or a play area for your kids. It can also be used as a storage area for your tools and gardening supplies.
2. Convenience: Having all of your living space on one level makes it easy to get around your property. You don’t have to worry about stairs or elevators, and you don’t have to worry about your kids playing near dangerous machinery.
3. Easy Access: You can easily gain access to your single-story garage with living quarters through the front or back door, and there’s also a side door that you can use if you want to go straight from the garage into your house without walking around it.
The Cons
1. Wind Resistance: Since a single-story garage is smaller than a two-story building, it can easily be damaged by strong winds. This also means that you’ll have to spend more money on repairs and upkeep throughout the year.
2. Single Level: If you’re used to living on one level and then decide to build a second floor onto your home, you may find that it’s a little difficult to adjust. You’ll also have to figure out a way to get your stuff from the first floor up to the second floor without too much trouble.
3. Taxes: Single-story garage homes are taxed at a higher rate than single-family homes because they’re considered businesses instead of homes. When you take your garage off the tax roles, you could end up paying thousands of dollars more in taxes over a year.
How to Decide if a Single Story Garage with Living Quarters is Right for You
Decide a single-story garage with living quarters is right for you by answering a few questions. You’ll then be able to determine if having a garage with a little extra space is worth it or not.
1. How Much Space Do I Need?
Before you decide whether or not to build a single-story garage with living quarters, think about how much space you need. If you just need a place to store your extra tools and don’t plan on using the living space very often, then go ahead and build a single-story garage with living quarters.
2. How Much Space Do I Want?
Secondly, think about how much space you want for your home office or guest room. Think about the amount of space you’ll be using and how much room you’ll need to store your stuff. This will help you decide if a single-story garage is a right size for you or not.
3. How Expensive Are Repairs?
A single-story garage can be more expensive than a two-story building because it’s not as wind resistant and is taxed more often. If you live in an area where the winds are pretty strong, then a single-story garage is probably not for you. You may also want to look at two-story garages if your property taxes are high because of the garage living space.
4. Do I Want Additional Living Space?
When it comes to single-story garage living spaces, you’ll often spend much more time in that area than you would a standard home. This means that you might want to consider tax breaks because your property taxes will be higher if you choose to live in this type of garage space.
What to Know Before Building a Single Story Garage with Living Quarters
Before building a single-story garage with living quarters, think about how it will affect your home. If you want to use the space for storage or a workspace, then go ahead and build the unit. However, if you want to live in that additional space or you’re dealing with high property taxes because of the living area, then you may want to think of other options.
Before buying a single-story garage with living quarters, consider the following:
1. The Way the Water Heater is Placed: If you want to live in that space, then you’ll need more than one water heater. You’ll also need to figure out how many bathrooms you’ll need and where you’ll put them.
2. Ventilation: Adding living quarters to your garage means that you’ll be breathing in more exhaust fumes, so make sure that there’s plenty of ventilation.
3. Electricity: Depending on what type of space you’re turning into living quarters, you may need to rewire the area.
4. Security: If you live in a busy neighborhood with lots of cars coming and going, then you may want to consider locks on the doors. Make sure that your garage is secure before turning it into living quarters or storage space.
The Cost of Building and Owning a Single Story Garage with Living Quarters
How about the cost of building and owning a single-story garage with living quarters? Let’s take a look:
1. Construction Costs: Building this type of garage will cost at least $50,000 as you’ll need to purchase the foundation as well as other materials.
2. Property Taxes: Depending on your area, you could be taxed more because of the additional living space.
3. Property Insurance: You may need to get more insurance for this type of garage because there’s more than just storage in the building, so make sure you check with your insurance company before signing any agreements.
4. Maintenance Costs: If you live in a windy area or one where the weather is harsh, then you’ll need to do some upkeep on the garage and make sure that it doesn’t get damaged.
How to Use Your Single Story Garage with Living Quarters
If you have a single-story garage with living quarters, then you’ll likely use that for storage or a workspace. You can also rent it out if you want to make some extra money. However, if your space is not well ventilated and has poor temperature control, then this option may not be worth the time or effort.
So, there you have it; all the pros and cons of owning a single-story garage with living quarters. Now you can make an informed decision about building this type of space for yourself. If you still want to build one, then check out any local construction codes before getting started.
Remember that if your property taxes are high or the weather is harsh in your area, you may want to think about other garage living options.
