Building the Perfect In-Law Suite in Ellicott City: The Schmidt Family Story

Introduction

Starcom has been building in-law suites for almost 40 years now! It has been a very rewarding process helping families come together in one location. While the design hasn’t changed drastically, today’s in-law suites are typically larger in size and often include guest rooms and laundry facilities. Thanks to advancements like stackable washers and dryers, creating functional laundry areas in compact spaces is easier than ever.

Land to build is beyond scarce, but families, in most cases, want to be together. Senior living can range in cost from $10-25K per month.  Building an in-law suite is a nice way to build equity for families and still promote independent living. Some people use the term ADU or accessory dwelling unit or “granny flats.”. 

This story highlights a recent in-law suite project for the Schmidt family, with details from other projects sprinkled in to give potential buyers insight into the journey of creating their own in-law suite.

Project Goals

The Schmidts had seen Starcom signs around the community over the years and kept us in the back of their minds when it came time to bring Mom and Dad to Maryland from Connecticut. Their home, located just 15 minutes from our design center, was the perfect site for an in-law suite.

We started our first meeting on site with a priority list of the amenities that were important for the build. We reviewed some similar projects we had done in the past to give the homeowners an idea of the possibilities. The in-laws were coming from a large house, so features like two full baths, a guest room, a large kitchenette, a screened porch, and laundry were important. Next, we reviewed the timelines: 4-5 weeks for conceptual and architectural plans, 5-6 weeks for permitting (if a property is on well and/ or septic, the timeline can be a week or two longer) and build time. We also discussed how we send project schedules to the owner on a regular basis.

We discussed:

• Budgets
• Milestone payments
• Financing options
• Inspections
• Meetings
• Additional work requests
• Communication needs

 We agreed to meet in about ten days at our design center. 

Planning/Design Stage

Ten days sounds like a lot of time to most of our customers as they are ready to break ground after the first meeting. During those ten days, we are quite busy checking the most up-to-date county requirements, working on the first draft floor plans, sourcing products, getting quotes, creating the description of work (this is usually around 4-5 pages), estimating, brainstorming design, and more.

The second meeting was planned so that Mom and Dad could join us. It makes it significantly easier if everyone involved is present so that we are all on the same page. Our motto is “on time, on budget, happy customer.” It sounds straightforward, but it is actually very complex. It is much easier to build a new house than to tackle most of the in-law suites we build, as we are dealing with a variety of pre-existing conditions.

After the second meeting, the Schmidts put down a deposit to begin their design work. During the design work phase, we are visiting the site, hosting clients here to discuss progress and our designer is reviewing products to make selections, picking colors and so on. Our selections process is methodical. We like to build upon the large items like cabinets or flooring first and then focus on smaller items like faucets or handles/knobs. Every customer processes information differently, so we like to identify what works for them and tailor our presentations and decision goals accordingly.

The Schmidts signed the construction agreement in mid-May, and the permitting process took about six weeks. Summer vacations can slow down processing in the building permit department. We started in mid-July with a projected build time of six months. The Schmidt’s in-law suite grew into what we call “a house next to a house.”  This design allowed for both families to enjoy time together while maintaining privacy. If Mom and Dad want to entertain, they can do so comfortably.

 

Challenges

Relocating the gas meter proved to be a significant obstacle for this project. We ran into problems with the utility company and permitting, which led to delays, but our team was persistent. After weeks of unanswered messages and emails, we escalated the issue and were able to secure the necessary permits to move forward. While these types of challenges are common in construction, our many years of building experience allows us to navigate these issues while keeping the clients informed every step of the way

Design Modifications

Typically, with all projects, there are changes that the customer would like to make after we have started work. For example, the interior wall of the screened porch originally had cement block with a stucco-like parging on it. The customer decided she wanted a more aesthetically pleasing interior porch design. A shiplap wall was an easy modification that made a big impact. In the first version of our plan, we had built-in bookcases in the guest room for all of Dad’s books. Custom built- ins are quite a bit more money than what comes from a local furniture store. The homeowner decided to apply that savings to the added screened porch shiplap cost.

The Finished Project

We also made a few alterations to some of the kitchen cabinetry, as sometimes getting the desired amenities takes some modifications. The finished results speak for themselves. “On time, on budget, happy customer” – we were very close to the six month projected timeline. If it hadn’t been for the utility company delays, the project would have been done ahead of schedule.  The customers are very happy, and the original contracted items stayed within budget.

If you have any questions about in-law suites or any of our other services, contact our team! Send an email to [email protected] or call us at 1-410-997-7700 ext 102.