converting a garage to a guest house or studio apartment in Dallas

Garage conversion to a guest house or studio apartment in Dallas

Here is a detached garage in Dallas that is still legally a garage, but has a lot of improvements so that it can be rented out as something similar to a guest house or studio apartment. For info on keeping everything legal, see below (or contact us today for info that is relevant to your property's zoning and the relevant local regulations in Dallas). For more info on this multi-purpose garage that is still legal as a garage (with a fully functioning garage door that opens the guest house up to be like an open-air porch), scroll right and hover over each image. Also note that the floor is rather attractive because of acid-staining the cement. Here is how the converted garage in Dallas looks with a slight turn to the right. Notice that the garage door lets in some light but is partly opaque, maintaining privacy. The main door to this guest house converted from a garage is mostly glass (with a privacy screen retracted to the top in this photo). With an even bigger turn to the right, here is the main door (made of glass), then a modest dining area plus the kitchenette (fully stocked with new countertops, stovetop, sink, cupboards, drawers, and a small refrigerator out of view) Next to the kitchenette is a small bathroom with a closet on the other side of that (near the bed). This photo shows the exterior of the detached garage that has been partially converted to a guest house or 'casita' in Dallas. All that is left to be done at this stage is some improvements to the appearance of the exterior walls of the guest house converted from a garage. Here is a photo inside the bathroom. Rather than add a tile floor to the bathroom, there is currently just a slip-safe mat (like I used to stand on when I was a dishwasher at a restaurant). This photo shows the interior of the detached garage that has been partially converted to a guest house or 'casita' in Dallas. This photo shows the interior of the detached garage in Dallas that has been partially converted to a studio apartment. This photo shows the interior of a studio apartment that was a garage conversion. SOURCE: http://www.airows.com/travel/coolest-airbnb-in-los-angeles

Note that the "guest house" shown above is still legally a garage. We feature it here
in case you are not aware of this way to convert a garage to a guest house or studio
apartment. If you are clear on what you want for your guest house, go ahead and
contact us (using one of the purple buttons on the upper left). If you are not sure yet
whether you want a full conversion (with the garage door removed) or something
more like the example shown above, click here (or simply contact us now).

Why convert a garage in Dallas to a guest house or apartment?

There are two basic reasons that home owners in Dallas convert a garage to separate living space: renting it out or using it for visitors (and both situations are covered in more detail below). First, be aware that usually these conversions will start with a detached garage that will be made in to a guest house addition, but people sometimes also do this kind of a conversion with an attached garage (like for an elderly parent that they want to be able to very easily check on).

"mother-in-law" guest suites

In many cases, homeowners in Dallas simply want to have the space available as a very private guest bedroom or mother-in-law suite for visitors (short-term visitors or long-term visitors, again, such as a disabled parent or even a live-in nanny or caregiver). You can keep your privacy in general (plus, in particular, keep them out of your kitchen by giving them one of their own).

renting out a studio apartment

Or, some people want to rent out what is now their garage. Again that could be for short-term rentals or long-term rentals.

In the case of long-term rentals, it can be important to be very clear on all of the zoning and permit issues that are specific to Dallas. Future landlords will want to minimize any complications or controversies involving their tenants (or Dallas's city officials). If you plan to rent out your current garage as a converted studio apartment in Dallas, you will probably value learning the basics of the legal regulations to make sure that everything will be fully legal so there will be no issues with building code compliance, property insurance coverage, property taxes, and so on. (To request a free phone consultation, click here: converting a garage to a studio apartment to rent out in Dallas.)

In fact, I even had a landlord once who was planning to complete a guest house on his property and then live in that (while renting out the main home). He was nearing retirement and planning to travel a lot, but wanted to have a cozy, reliable apartment of his own (at least as long as he was renting out the main house on 12-month leases).

As of when I'm writing this, it has been years, but we are still friends and he did do those renovations and then rent out his main home. However, his studio apartment was not converted from a garage. He simply took a few bedrooms and a bathroom, added other amenities like a kitchenette, and then "cut off" /blocked off that area from the rest of house and built a private entrance for that "wing" of the multi-family dwelling / duplex.

In fact, with attached garages getting converted to a stand-alone living space in Dallas, sometimes people will need a wall to be removed (to include a section of the main home as part of the new studio apartment). To see an example of that kind of a garage conversion, click here now: removing the garage doors, opening the back of the garage in to the interior of the home, and renovating that larger space in to a new living area.

What are the stages in the process of converting a garage to a guest house?

Before the actual construction stages, there are the pre-construction stages. That includes all the initial research and planning, plus obtaining financing if relevant.

In some cases, home owners will have completed many of these steps before contacting our building contractors in Dallas. However, our builders can also help you to complete all of these steps of planning and preparation.

First, have you thought about zoning for your future guest house or studio apartment in Dallas? If you are not familiar with zoning issues, you will want to discuss those with your renovation estimator (since if you report to the local government that you are adding a second kitchen, that can trigger a re-zoning of your property from a single-family dwelling to a multi-family dwelling).

Next to avoid fines and maintain full insurance coverage for the added value of the garage conversion, you will want to get properly informed about building permits and local codes. Improper garage conversions in Dallas (without all required permits) can be an especially unfavorable complication when it comes time to sell. (If you already have that issue, use our contact form to let us know. In emergency cases, there may be a relevant loophole that you are not aware of.) However, most home owners are most comfortable with either making sure the initial renovation is fully built to code or urgently correcting any code violations once discovered.

If all the higher priorities are handled, then one of the most important pre-construction stages in regard to the structure itself is an inspection of the carport or garage. That is to assess the initial condition of the foundation, walls, and roof).

Next comes the actual construction.That can involve quite a few steps: treating the cement floor (with epoxy or acid-staining), adding at least one window and a standard door, adding insulation to the walls and.or roof, interior painting, plumbing, electrical wiring, plus interior decorating. To obscure the view of the garage doors (even transparent ones), many people will wish to use drapes or shoji screens (oriental room dividers). Click the image below for more info on all the steps that may be relevant to your conversion of a garage to a guest house or studio apartment in Dallas:

How much will it cost to convert a garage to a custom studio apartment or guest house addition?

Naturally, the cost of custom construction jobs will not be easy to estimate until after the main details of the desired final result are clear to the estimator. Do you know if you want to do a full conversion to make your garage legally in to something else? Or, do you want to keep it legally a garage, but just improve it so that someone can "camp out" there (just like someone could legally put up a tent in your yard)? If you want to lean more about legally converting a garage, click the prior link (or simply contact us now).

When you do contact a garage conversion supervisor in Dallas through this site, it is best to let us know how clear you are so far on your top priorities. That could be maximizing "curb appeal," keeping the budget modest, urgency of fast completion, or whatever other ideals you have. To request your consultation now, click contact your new garage conversion contractor in Dallas.

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