The Difference Between A Granny Flat and A House

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Homeowners often face a dilemma over whether to opt for a granny flat over a house. Well, you might not have stumbled across the term ‘granny flat’ in the past, but now it is time to know what it is. Granny flats offer a convenient mechanism through which homeowners can maximize their space in terms of square footage. The process does not involve any expensive construction or renovation to your existing structure. A granny flat can enhance your property value significantly, optimizing its revenue potential.

In this post, you will get to know how granny flats differ from ordinary houses. Besides, we have presented the comparative benefits of each of them for you.

Size of the property

In terms of size, granny flats are more compact and smaller than average houses. This is perhaps the most striking difference between these two types of property. Under normal conditions, granny flats have adequate space to accommodate one or two people. One can customize these flats with the necessary amenities. Therefore, at times, you have just the kitchenettes, and in other cases, these flats have a wide plethora of amenities. You need to decide the purpose of having a granny flat, depending on whether you want to couple it up as a guest suite.

Placement

Granny flats are generally added to a house, which is already located on a property. On the other hand, houses have their own property in terms of land. In general, granny flats are developed on the rear areas of houses. This ensures that the people residing here would enjoy a greater degree of privacy. However, you can place a granny flat in any position, as per your preference. For many property owners, it is a pleasure to have an extra bit of space to accommodate a guest suite, home office, or even aging parents. Therefore, it may serve as a valuable addition to your residence.

Utility

A granny flat serves as a cost-effective measure for making your household more spacious. However, you need not carry out any renovation or full construction. Besides, many of these granny flats are prefabricated these days. This enables homeowners to add more space in quick time to the property. Particularly, if you are interested in configuring a home-office, a granny flat can serve as a distraction-free alternative. Besides, you can treat your visitors with additional privacy. Some property owners prefer renting out the granny spaces to earn additional revenue. At the time of selling the property, you would enjoy an enhanced value.

Cost effectiveness

While constructing a regular house involves the normal costs, installing a granny flat turns out to be cost-effective. In most of the situations, property owners have the freedom to choose from existing designs. Choosing prefabricated flats further simplifies the process. However, you can always get these spaces customized to your taste. However, prefabrication might not be the best option in case you have exact requirements. Reaching out to one of the reputed developers would be a viable remedy for cost-effectiveness.

Now, you know why a significant segment of homeowners prefers adding granny flats to their homes. It serves as a cost-effective strategy to enhance the available space. No doubt, investing in a granny flat would increase the value of your property.

Aspects You Need To Consider While Designing Granny Flats

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Granny flats are proving to be very popular additions to residential properties across Sydney. Many families that want to accommodate elderly family members are considering getting these features installed. But that isn’t the only reason why someone would want to build a granny flat. These structures can also be used as additional space for your growing family.

You can also use it as a home office, a studio or even rent it out for additional income. Regardless of why you want a granny flat built, you would need the services of experienced granny flat builders. We at 5 Star Granny are a leading company in this industry and have proven expertise in constructing different types of granny flats.

Why You Should Consider Getting a Granny Flat built

There is no restriction on how many bedrooms this feature can have, and can fit perfectly in yards of different sizes. A granny flat is ideal for providing convenient accommodation for elderly family members while giving them the privacy they need.

The structure can be built within a short period, compared to a standard home; since it’s smaller, it’s easier to maintain too. Every feature and element can be customized to your needs by a skilled and experienced custom home builder.

Things to Consider

While this may seem like a small project, a lot of planning and thought goes into granny flat construction. It is crucial to ensure that the granny flat plan and layout fits your requirements. When you work with a company that provides customised services, you can be sure that your granny flat will be as you envisioned it to be.

However, there are certain aspects you need to take into account while discussing your requirements with the granny flat builder in Sydney. Here are some of the most important ones:

  • Take into account the available space and how much of it can be used for constructing the one-bedroom granny flat.
  • Since this structure would need a separate entrance, make sure that there is plenty of surrounding space.
  • Keep aspects such as privacy in view so that you and the occupants of the granny flat can have separate spaces that you can use comfortably.
  • Determine what kind of layout you want and discuss these details with the builder.
  • If the granny flat is going to be used by elderly family members, make sure that additional safety features and installations are added to the plans.
  • The styling of the structure should match the architectural elements of your home.
  • Discuss how you want the movement flow of the flat to be and whether you want any outdoor spaces like a small patio etc.
  • Determine what kind of materials you prefer for all the exterior and interior installations.
  • Choose the colour theme that you want.
  • While you are discussing all these details, make sure that the granny flat builder in Sydney has a clear idea about your budget.

Keeping all these aspects in view and planning everything down to the last detail is one of the best ways to make sure that you get a one-bedroom granny flat that fits perfectly on your property and provides you with the functionality you need. For any more information, contact 5 Star Builders at 02 9639 3673 to discuss details about your project. You can also send us a message via this Contact Us form.

Things You Need To Know About Council Approvals For Your New Granny Flat

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Several homeowners are now considering building granny flats on their residential properties. This is primarily because it offers them a unique and cost-effective housing solution. These granny flats prove to be an excellent place to stay either for ageing parents or children who are back from school.

Granny flats are essentially secondary structures that are either built adjacent to the main property or have their own building on the same property. These structures are specially designed to house two people.

The flats can be constructed in the outdoor area of a house and can be rented out for additional income as well. Once you’ve made the decision to get a granny flat built, it is crucial to ensure that you hire the services of a reputable and well-established company with a good track record, like us at 5 Star Builders.

Several intricacies come with the construction of another structure. The builders you choose will provide you with all the necessary information you need to know before commencing a project like this. Besides the information on the design of the structure and the materials used, several homeowners have additional questions on whether council approval is required to build these structures.

Approval for Granny Flats

The local council or a licensed certifier has the authority to approve such features as a development that follows local regulations. There’s no need to file for an official development application to receive certification. However, your granny flat must be compliant with the Affordable Rental House Act. There are a few factors that have to be taken into account with building a granny house; this includes:

  • All local and state rules have to be followed
  • Whether or not the granny flat will be used as a secondary residence
  • Whether the structure is compliant with the pre-existing standards for developing a secondary house under the SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy)

Essential Facts

The council examines several different aspects. Your granny flat has to be:

  • Constructed adjacent to your existing property.
  • Has to be built on the same plot as your primary residence

Submission of the Granny Flat Application

There is a specific process  to be followed while lodging an application with the council for granny flat construction, such as:

  • Complying development means Complying Development Certificate (CDC), from an accredited certifier or the local council. It takes approximately 20 days for the approval to go through.
  • If the council determines that your granny flat construction plan isn’t compliant, you will have to make the necessary changes and lodge another application. This is a standard process with the local council.

We offer the best granny flat design and build solutions at the most cost-effective pricing. Our team works closely with you and provides custom solutions that fit your budget. For any more information, contact 5 Star Builders at 02 9639 3673 to discuss details about your project. You can also send us a message via this Contact Us form.

How Experienced Granny Flat Builders Can Help

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If you’re looking to build a new granny flat, it’s essential to find an experienced builder. Good Sydney granny flats builders understand your needs and the local planning rules and regulations thoroughly.

Local Granny Flat Builders

5 Star Builders has always been at the fore of this industry. We have the experience and expertise to design and build custom granny flats. The high-quality services we offer perfectly balance with our affordable solutions. We offer start-to-end granny flat conceptualisation, design & planning, and construction solutions.

Who Can Use Granny Flats?

A granny flat, whether as an attached or detached extension to your house, adds value to your property and can be used for various purposes. You can use it to house elders in your family. It is a great way to provide a play place to your kids, accommodate guests, a private place for teenagers, etc. All these options can seem confusing and overwhelming, which is where an experienced granny flat builder comes into the picture. They offer different customised solutions that help to ensure the flat will suit a specific need and space.

Hire Proven Builders For Granny Flat Construction

The popularity of granny flats has soared because of their versatility. It adds to the living space and value of your property. Builders who have built a variety of granny flat are adept at customising them to client’s needs. Take a look at how they can help:

  • A good granny flat builder is customer-centric. They let the client know the limitations of the available space. At the same time, they respect your suggestions about any designs and pictures the client may have seen online or in a magazine.
  • An experienced builder can quickly work out a suitable design, but fitting it perfectly in your space is not an easy job. They need to draw a mental picture of how it will look on completion and whether it matches your expectations.
  • The builder ensures that the granny flat project complies with all state and local planning laws.
  • They have in-depth information relevant to your area and take care of various requirements of building a granny flat. There are laws about the way you can use your land for building a granny flat. These requirements cover aspects such as building placement and earthwork, land cleaning and even colours of granny flats. An experienced builder knows every specification and is meticulous in conforming to them.
  • They use the best materials and services in constructing your granny flat to ensure you have a solid and attractively designed structure.

Sydney Granny Flat Builders

No matter what type of granny flat you want to build, a seasoned granny flat builder puts in their best efforts to add value to your property. They ensure that you have a granny flat within your budget that is up-to-code, attractive, durable, and comfortable to live in.

For any more information about our custom granny flat construction and other services, feel free to contact 5 Star Builders at 02 9639 3673 to discuss details about your project. You can also send us a message via this Contact Us form.