Home & Away
With the rising popularity of Airbnb accommodation, homeowners are looking for ways to make their homes more guest-friendly. Whether you’re looking to create additional space for family visits or wanting to obtain some extra income on the side, building an additional dwelling may be the answer.
Leigh Marie Dodd speaks with Jim Antoun, the group sales and marketing manager at Firstyle Homes, about tips for building an extra residence on an existing block.
In your opinion, what are the benefits of creating an additional guest residence?
JA: The main benefits include the ability to generate a passive income, providing elderly family or adult children accommodation, increasing your asset value, as well as future-planning for your own retirement.
How can homeowners create extra living space in their existing home without building?
An easy option is to reconfigure spaces and adjust the room with partitioning devices to create separate areas. These can be bought at IKEA or other furniture retailers.
How can homeowners maintain their privacy when adding guest accommodation to their residence?
There are a few ways that privacy can be maintained. If you’re thinking about building a detached dwelling, make sure you include fencing and access alternatives to the main home. If the guest accommodation is attached, adequate sound insulation will help to provide privacy for yourself and your guests.
Are there any critical design differences that should be implemented depending on how homeowners intend to use their addition?
When building a guest residence or designated wing, consider flexible, changeable spaces that can add to the multiple usages the dwelling will have. Flexibility is the key to catering for all guests. Incorporating partition walls with adjustable concertina doors will ensure rooms can be separated if needed. Basically, if more rooms have more options, then multiple guests can have privacy simultaneously, and smaller rooms can be opened up for a true openplan living experience.
What are the most common difficulties faced by homeowners undertaking this type of project? How can they be overcome?
You should be careful of cost blowouts, council approvals, and development contributions. However, you can avoid some of these issues by choosing the right builder, allowing for delays, budgeting properly and conducting research by visiting display homes, such as Firstyle Homes’ dual-living display home in Oran Park.
Where is the best place to situate additional accommodation in a pre-existing home?
It’s best to position the dwelling at the rear or the side of the property to allow for privacy and access without disruption. Planning the space prior to building, and considering the amount of land you have left on the pre-existing lot is critical.
Apart from the main living areas, what other rooms could homeowners add to a guest wing?
To cater for all types of guests, consider a study and partition options for more bedrooms; these are handy when needed.
What features will optimise the visual appeal and functionality of an Airbnb, guest wing or ancillary dwelling?
I believe it’s important to build your new addition to suit your existing home. It’s also a good idea to incorporate high ceilings where possible. Also, consider including an alfresco area and open-plan living space into the design, as these are highly sought after.
Do you have any further tips for readers who are planning to create additional space for guests and/or renters?
My strongest advice is to make sure you reduce the emotional ups and downs of dealing with different renters by treating your additional residence like a business. Just like a business, you will get good clients and bad, and they will never treat the dwelling like you would. The overall benefits far outweigh the negatives. You will be rewarded with an income that generates assets, as well as a space that can cater to guests, renters and families for decades.
How can homeowners minimise disruption to their lives while building on their existing lot?
My advice is to plan ahead. Make sure you factor in delays and agree on contract terms to ensure speed of build. It’s a good idea to choose a builder based on their reputation and their guaranteed building timeframes.
Do you have any tips on decorating guest living quarters?
I believe neutral colours are best, both inside and out, to ensure it’s as timeless as possible. There is a real trend toward greys and matte finishes. This will also allow for decorative changes to occur more frequently and easily in the future.
What are the main financial considerations that should be taken into account when building another living space within an existing home?
Try to formalise the final cost with the builder as quickly as possible, and make sure to include approval costs and contributions to council. Be mindful of loan costs, both during the build and when the dwelling is vacant, as they can rapidly add up. Maintenance and up-keep costs must also be factored in, as well as landlord and building insurance costs. These are critical to ensure peace of mind.