So you have some extra land and you want to build yourself a guest house. Maybe you’re looking to make some extra money from a renter. Perhaps you’re getting ready to move an older relative in so you can help them out in their later years. Whatever the reason, there are many things to consider when you’re building a guest house or casita.

Know Your Local Laws

Before you even start to really research guest houses, you need to do one quick thing. Look up your local laws and see if you’re even allowed to build one in the first place. Local zoning and property laws could forbid the construction of a guest house entirely. Others could limit its size and affect how close it can be placed to a neighbor’s home. You may also need approval from a local zoning board.
Knowing all of this beforehand can be helpful. This knowledge will allow you to know what kind of scope your home building project can have. Zoning laws may seem like a pain, but taking this step and learning about them can actually help you narrow down your goals and make the construction process less overwhelming!

Know the Costs and What Can Affect Them

Once you’ve figured out what local laws will permit, it pays to study up on the costs of building a guest home. It’s also wise to take into account what factors can affect that cost. The construction of a guest house typically costs anywhere from $100 to $500 per square foot.
Where your guest house falls on this spectrum depends on a few things, like what materials you use and what finishing options you choose. After that, the total cost could keep on rising if you add on any other amenities. Do you want a guest house with a porch or deck? That’s going to cost you extra.

Determine Whether an ROI is Important

Another thing that you need to know about guest houses is that they don’t always result in a return on investment. In higher income neighborhoods a return on investment, or ROI, is usually more common. However, nothing is guaranteed. Think seriously about why you’re building a guest house or casita and plan accordingly. You’ll have to consider carefully whether it’s just a place for a relative or friend to stay or a project designed to boost the value of your home. If you’re just in need of a safe place for grandma to stay in her golden years, a return on investment may not be your top priority.
This is of course referring to a situation where you would end up selling your home. If you think that you’ll be renting it out and staying in your home for a long time to come, you may end up recouping that money spent building a guest house or casita eventually.