My plan to extend & build attached studio/1 bed unit

Discussion in 'Renovation & Home Improvement' started by MelBella, 2nd Feb, 2018.

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  1. MelBella

    MelBella Member

    Joined:
    31st Jan, 2018
    Posts:
    19
    Location:
    Melbourne
    I'm sharing my initial and rough ideas here (and I hope I've articulated them properly) and would really appreciate your suggestions and feedback :)

    I would like to build an extension, basically a spacious studio/or with a separate bedroom (if possible) over my garage. High quality but nothing fancy or luxury. Double glazing, properly insulated and top quality fittings.

    Background:

    1. Our home sits on a block of a little over 850 sqm. It has 5 bedrooms upstairs and a small bedroom/study with full bathroom downstairs (as well as the usual open plan family room & kitchen and a large formal living-dining). I will refer to this as the main home.

    2. Our main home sits elevated around 2.4-2.8m metres up from the street.

    3. The garage sits on the front right, adjoining the Southern boundary. A part of the back wall of the garage is common with the front of the study. The garage is set back 10.5m from the road.


    [​IMG]

    4. The garage slopes up from the street and is probably .8-1m (?? pretty steep slope up) above the road.

    5. There is a lovely reserve and park directly opposite our home.

    PLAN

    1. I would like to build the extension over this garage combining it with the downstairs study and bathroom, to result in a nice, spacious studio/1 bedroom self-contained unit.

    2. The studio will have its own entrance next to the main entrance and also connected to our main home internally.

    3. I place to extend the garage in the front by 1.5 metres (complies with the 9m front setback rule).

    4. To build the extension over the garage on the same elevation as the main home, I'd have to lower the floor of the garage by about 60 cms (it will still slope slightly up from the road)

    This is what I'm hoping to achieve:

    [​IMG]

    I will post a picture of the exterior shortly.


    How I intend to use it


    1. I will let it out fully furnished initially - I guess 2 individuals could occupy it on a shared basis ($200-250 each, all bills plus cleaning included). From what I've seen on flatmates it appears to be achievable. Airbnb is another option.

    2. We plan to move into this studio eventually and let out a portion of the main home as a fully furnished share house, earning us an income of around $1000 a week. I will also hire someone to clean the entire place, say 4-6 hours a week (4x30 =$120-180), so that takes care of cleaning.

    3. The above figures are conservative and lower than market rates. I don't intend to charge any higher. This is an inner-eastern suburb, 5 minute walk to the railway station, 20 min to Melbourne Central and a 10 min walk to the tram, Woolies, Coles, restaurants and cafes. Great views (of the reserve and large garden) from every room in the house.


    Some initial questions:

    1. Is it possible to lower the floor of the garage by 60 cms without knocking down the entire garage and rebuilding? There is nothing built on top of the double brick garage. Or is knocking it down and rebuilding the only way to go?

    2. Property is under Booroondara council, GRZ 1.

    3. Any potential council issues I should be aware of? Obviously all this will be done by the rule book.

    4. How much should I budget for this project?

    I will be speaking to some companies/builders that specialise in this sort of thing soon.

    Thank you and apologies for the long post.