Are you thinking about a garden suite? This smart move can add significant value to your property and provide flexible living space for your family or rental income. But if this is your first time tackling a backyard home project, you might feel overwhelmed by the myriad of decisions and potential pitfalls ahead.
In this blog, we’ll cover the essentials of Garden Suites, their benefits, and the top three mistakes homeowners often make—along with practical tips on how to avoid them. By the end, you’ll have a more precise roadmap (or at least a starting point) for bringing your backyard home to life.
What Is a Garden Suite and Why Should You Consider One?
A Garden Suite (sometimes called a “Backyard Home”) is a self-contained residential unit that can be attached to or detached from the main home. It has a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area, making it a complete living space. Backyard Homes are becoming increasingly popular, offering many benefits that can transform a property and lifestyle. People are using their backyard homes as spaces for:
- Multigenerational Living: A garden suite can provide a comfortable and independent living space for aging parents, adult children, or other family members who want to stay close. It can also foster a sense of togetherness while respecting everyone’s privacy.
- Rental Income: Offset your mortgage or generate passive income by renting out your Garden Suite.
- Increased Property Value: Adding a well-designed Backyard Home can significantly boost the resale value of your property.
- Flexible Space: It can be used as a guesthouse, home office, art studio, or private retreat—the possibilities are endless!
Of course, as with any project, there are some things to be aware of when planning your garden suite.
The 3 Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
Building a Backyard Home can be an exciting project but has potential challenges. Below are the three most common mistakes homeowners make and actionable tips to help you avoid them.
1. Zoning and Permit Pitfalls
What Goes Wrong:
Many first-time Garden Suite builders rush into the design phase without fully understanding local zoning laws and permit requirements. Every city or county has regulations dictating where and how large a Backyard Home can be and architectural or style constraints. Overlooking these can lead to costly delays, forced design changes, fines, or even project shutdowns.
How to Avoid It:
- Research Early: Thoroughly investigate your local zoning laws before hiring a contractor or finalizing your Backyard Home design.
- Consult Professionals: Work with experts who are familiar with navigating local regulations. At Resimate, we handle the paperwork and municipal submissions to spare you the headache. We do the legwork for you—researching local laws, filing permits, and ensuring compliance. Our expertise saves you time, money, and a mountain of stress. If you want a full roadmap, book an On-Site Assessment and get a comprehensive report!
- Don’t Skip Small Details. Setbacks, height restrictions, and window placement can matter; slight deviations can create big problems later.
- Submit Permits ASAP: The earlier you submit your permit applications, the less likely you’ll encounter unexpected hold-ups.
2. Choosing the Wrong Contractors
What Goes Wrong:
Hiring a general contractor who doesn’t specialize in Garden Suites or lacks the right experience can lead to subpar artistry, mismanaged budgets, and frustrating delays. Communication issues can also wreak havoc; misunderstandings about design details, timelines, or materials often result in costly rework and tense client–builder relationships.
How to Avoid It:
- Check Qualifications: Ensure your chosen contractor has a strong track record, specifically in the type of construction you’re doing. We work exclusively with vetted contractors with profound experience constructing garden suites to help reduce risk, streamline communication, and protect your investment. Read about our process to understand more.
- Read Reviews and Testimonials: Review online feedback and speak to past clients.
- Request Detailed Quotes: Don’t just settle for the cheapest bid; ensure each quote details materials, labour, and extras costs.
- Sign a Contract: Clearly outline timelines, payment schedules, and deliverables in writing to prevent surprises.
- Maintain Open Communication: Regular check-ins help spot issues early and keep everyone on the same page.
3. Budgeting Mistakes
What Goes Wrong:
Underestimating the total cost of a backyard home is more common than you might think. Homeowners often forget to account for utilities (water, sewer, electricity), soft costs like permit fees and architectural plans, and price fluctuations in materials. Soft costs are non-construction expenses that are necessary for the project, such as permit fees and architectural plans. An incomplete budget can lead to panic mid-project and, worse, stalled construction.
How to Avoid It:
- Create a Comprehensive Budget: Include construction materials, labour, utility hookups, permit fees, inspections, and a contingency fund of at least 10–20%.
- Obtain Multiple Quotes: Comparing estimates ensures you’re getting a fair deal. Be wary of bids that are significantly lower than others.
- Monitor Spending: Keep tabs on your budget during each construction phase and adjust as needed.
- Plan for Surprises: Weather delays, supply shortages, and other unforeseen events can happen. Having a financial buffer maintains project momentum.
Bringing It All Together
Building a Backyard Home can feel like juggling a dozen balls at once—but it doesn’t have to be stressful. With the proper research, contractor selection, and budgeting strategy, you can sidestep the most common pitfalls and pave the way for a smoother construction process.
At Resimate, we specialize in guiding homeowners through every step—from navigating zoning laws to finalizing the last nail in your garden suite. Our track record, expertise, and network of trusted professionals ensure you get a high-quality build without the usual headaches, giving you the confidence to embark on this exciting project.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you’re just exploring the idea or already have a design in mind, we’re here to help. Book a call and let us show you how easy it can be to build the garden suite of your dreams!
