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Guest Houses Can Offer Many Possibilities
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Anita Koppens
Anita has a BA in English literature and writes articles for real estate interests 
By Anita Koppens
Published on 10/20/2008
 
Your guest house can offer alternatives that fit your lifestyle.

Guest Houses Can Offer Many Possibilities

Guest houses are choice real estate selling points. Having a guest house is ideal for homeowners who commonly accoMany properties have been purchased just on the fact that they have a guest house. A guest house is a great aspect to a property, particularly if you are a homeowner that tends to have many long terms guests, or if you want to supplement your monthly income with a renter. Some families even allow their college-aged child to take over the guest house. If any of these classic uses for a guest house don't seem to suit you, then you need to change your guest house into something that you can really use. You could convert your guest house into a pool house, a home office, or perhaps a gym and fitness area.

Every guest house will require a different amount of remodeling, and this will also depend on how much you would like to see done in terms of changes to the guest house. Depending on what you want to do, you may benefit from the employment of help. No matter how much change you ultimately decide to make, it is important to start making plans.

The majority of guest houses are basically setup like a mini-house. It probably has a kitchen, one or two bedrooms, and a living room area. You need to determine how you can best use the square footage for you, rather than how the guest house is presently setup.

For instance, if you want to turn your guest house into a pool house, chances are you won't need a kitchen unless you plan to do some serious entertaining, but you may want to keep the bathrooms and bedrooms as changing and storage areas. If you want to turn your guest house into a home gym, you may want to get rid of every room except the bathroom in order to make space for your exercise equipment.

When you are determining exactly what you do and do not need, it can be helpful to figure out what your needs are to begin with. Think about how much space you actually need, depending on what your project is. Do you need open spaces? Or, just an office? Next, consider how many distinct rooms that you are going to need. Keeping the bathroom is a good idea no matter what your purpose is. You also may need storage space. Now, think about the course of remodeling. How much work will it take to get your guest house looking the way you want it to look? The amount of remodeling needed will depend on how many actual structural changes you will have to implement. If the amount of remodeling is beyond your budget, be ready to change your plan until you find the right balance.

Whatever you decide to use the guest house for should determine what materials you pick. For instance, you wouldn't want to install carpet in an office or a gym because it can be damaged by office chairs or equipment. On the other hand, installing tile can still make the area look inviting and cozy. Also consider the height of the ceilings in your guest house. If you have a dropped ceiling, you may not be able to fit exercise equipment in. Also, if it is in your budget, consider the window placement. If you want a desk with a view, your guest house may not be able to give this to you depending on the window placement.

Picking the right materials can add to your overall enjoyment of your property. If you are going for an office or a gym, carpet isn't a good choice. It can get damaged too easily from office chairs and gym equipment. Tile would be a smart option for either of these purposes. Is the ceiling too low for exercise equipment? Or would you like to have a view from your desk? The point is to pick materials that will make your space more functional as well as add to the guest house's décor and design. Take your time and look at other examples in magazines or online. This should be a fun project!

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