Who said gardens have to be horizontal?

One thing granny flats have in common with houses on larger blocks is they all have at least 4 walls! So why not put a wall to good use with a vertical garden. Very space efficient, hides blank brickwork exterior walls and can have a cooling effect on the granny flat.

Use planters and wall pots

Similar to vertical gardens in principle, planter pots come in a variety of shapes and sizes, sitting on veranda or deck hand rails, top of fences (privacy) as well as hanging off fences.

Get creative

Edges of pathways are often an area with spare space and having a small garden lining a pathway gives the area more impact, you can also create gardens to hide rubbish bins or areas that need added privacy.

Granny flats don’t have to be that square box down the backyard, even with limited space it’s easy and affordable to create a low maintenance area which any tenant would love to spend time in.

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1. Granny Flat Design

We have a large range of one, two and three bedroom designs to choose from, you can also design your own layout with our consultants and draftspeople. This means no matter the purpose or needs we can build your granny flat from virtually any floor plan.

2. Construction Experience

A builders work speaks volumes and we have hundreds of granny flats completed throughout Sydney. We welcome you to see our displays and recent work so you know exactly the quality that goes into Granny Flats Sydney.

3. Price & Budget

We work with you and your budget, granny flat prices can vary from factors including inclusions such as light fittings, flooring types through to bench tops. Other things which affect price include material types and environmentally sustainable elements.

Granny Flats Sydney carefully monitor every stage of each granny flat we build right down to tradespeople to ensure our products stand apart from the rest. Talk to our team today to learn more about building a granny flat in Sydney and how it could be right for you.

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When it comes to building a granny flat or even your second, making the right choice in which builder is right for you can affect your entire project. For 12 – 14 weeks, you will be working closely with your builder so when making this decision it definitely needs to carry significant weight. Below is 5 tips you should keep in mind when finding the right builder for your new granny flat in Sydney.

COST: 

Choosing a builder which develops your granny flat with you, understanding your project and is willing to be flexible to deliver the entire project to meet your needs. Keep aware of cheap quotes as they generally have hidden costs or critical aspects may be an additional cost.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS: 

You can never have enough experience. Choosing a builder with extensive industry experience can mean they have the capability to solve any issues without impacting your granny flat project.

DESIGN: 

Granny flats are only 60sqm, so working with an experienced builder can assist in ensuring you end up with a functional design. It’s always a good sign when a builder isn’t limited by a design type and willing to build more than a square box.

TESTIMONIALS:

Finding a builder with testimonials, reviews and able to offer customer references is a good sign you’re on the right path to finding a reputable builder. Builders with many repeat customers is a strong signal they provide exceptional service and high build standard.

LICENSED & QUALIFIED: 

Obviously, it’s hugely important your builders licence is current and they are fully insured. Having additional recognised accreditations such as from the Master Builders Association can also be beneficial in choosing the right builder for you.

There are many reasons for choosing the right granny flat builder, the list we have put together above points out 5 of which we think deserve a priority in your decision making process.

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Why invest more in your granny flat’s indoor/outdoor living area?

• Memorable/stand out! – When it comes to tenants, yours will be the pick of the bunch.
• Appear larger
• Fulfil the prospect’s needs! – More people choose to spend the night in. In a typical Sydney granny flat this would get old fast. Why not make it more enjoyable?
• The greater your stand out granny flat is in demand, the more you can make!

Who says open kitchen, living and alfresco areas are only for homes? A large, private outdoor entertaining area married to an open living/dining and kitchen has the same appeal and benefits in granny flats as it does with homes, in fact, more so as it’s not all that common!

How to stand out in Sydney!

Your outdoor area needs to be all seasons, this means shade and fans in summer and a roof with the possibility of enclosing with shutters or blinds in winter. Use glass where possible, wide glass doors make the area brighter and larger, a definite plus in any granny flat in Sydney. Sydney can get chilly, the addition of gas for an outdoor fireplace or heater is also a consideration.

Talk to the granny flat experts at Granny Flats Sydney about the ideas above, or some of your own! Call us today on 02 9785 4899.

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Before getting started on any tips below, it’s worth talking to an expert. Your accountant, property manager or builder/tradesperson.

Vacancy
This one is simple, reduce vacancy time to increase your ROI. Understand your location and target prospects and long term tenants.

Off Street Parking
Sydney streets are cluttered with vehicles, offering your tenants off street parking for their granny flat can fetch up to $20 more a week.

Pet Friendly
Making your granny flat rental pet friendly can achieve an additional $20 a week and also appeal to a far greater number of tenants. Pet owners typically make better long term tenants, knowing the difficulty in finding granny flats which accept pets. (Always cover yourself for pet damage in your lease)

Privacy
A person’s privacy is priceless, ensuring you have tall fences/hedges and separation from neighbours will attract more tenants, appealing low maintenance gardens can achieve this also.

Appliances
Dishwashers and air conditioning can increase your rental income, tenants are willing to pay for these convenience and comfort items.

Storage
A well designed granny flat, despite the size constraints imposed by the SEPP can be achieved and deliver decent wardrobe, above and below bench storage. You can also provide linen space and a shed. Tenant’s love storage, happy tenants are better paying tenants!

These tips can vary in effectiveness, you need to consider the type of tenant you want to attract, location among other variables. You should talk to your local council in regards to erecting carports, removing trees etc. council approval may be required.

Happy Granny Flat Renting!

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Choosing the type of exterior finish for your granny flat is becoming more difficult in recent times with the overwhelming amount of products available. Then of course you have your blocks aspect, your budget, available colours of certain products, textures and a products thermal and sound insulation properties to name a few considerations. At Granny Flat Sydney we build a large number of brick granny flats in Sydney so in this article we are going over some of the pros and cons of bricks as an exterior construction material.

From an investors point of view, bricks seem ideal as they require little maintenance, which is why we are often building brick granny flats in Sydney, however, there is more to bricks than just low maintenance. So let’s get to finding out!

Some pros to brick exterior granny flats:

• As we know they require little maintenance, never require painting and are strong and quite durable
• Bricks are typically a higher energy efficiency than other common exterior products, warmer in winter and cooler in summer
• Bricks are one of the most fire resistant building products available
• Brick granny flats tend to demand slightly better rents than timber cladding from our analysis
• Brick tends to prevent noise transmission better than timber cladding products
• Insurance can be cheaper with brick construction, from an insurance point they see – wood = flammable, brick = non-flammable

Some cons when building with bricks:

• Building your granny flat with brick will increase the cost compared to cladding, repairs can also be expensive
• The granny flat’s foundations are engineered for the extra weight of brick construction, adding additional costs
• Changing your exterior look in the future proves more expensive, with rendering a common option

A granny flat’s exterior construction is a major factor and worth time considering, to answer any questions please get in touch with us by email or phone.

Granny Flat Sydney.

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Basically, this design concept is about essentials only whilst maintaining a level of sophistication.

Tips to get more out of your Sydney granny flat include:

• Reduce Clutter, Only Have What Is Required!
• Use Clean Lines
• Natural Light
• Make Use Of White And Natural Colours
• No Patterns Or Anything Busy!
• Consider Square Set Walls – No Cornice! Straight Sharp Lines
• Balance Is Key, Find Comfort In The Bare Essentials And You Have Nailed It!

Other options you can consider when building your granny flat with Granny Flat Sydney is an additional verandah, deck or alfresco area. Adding an alfresco area onto your granny flats living area blurs the boundary from the outdoors to indoors, making the living space appear larger. Talk to the staff at Granny Flat Sydney about your granny flat design and available options today!

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Building your new granny flat can be an exciting process and whilst starting with a blank canvas can seem daunting, there are some granny flat upgrades worth taking a closer look at. It is when thinking about which features to invest in that a bit of knowledge goes a long way. The key here is to prioritise upgrades against what will make your granny flat more livable. Some upgrades will  inevitably add durability to your granny flat investment and others mean you can demand better rental yields immediately.

So What Is Worth Spending A Bit More On?

Flooring

Many granny flat investors opt for the basic and cheapest flooring option which is clip-lock laminated flooring or budget carpet. This can be short sighted as it generally just means replacement sooner rather than later. Choosing a more durable flooring options such as wood flooring or tiling not only looks more attractive but lasts longer. There are other benefits too, like being allergy sufferer friendly, easy maintenance, durable and only marginally more expensive than carpet or laminate. While on the subject of carpet and laminate, it’s worth mentioning it always pays to opt for premium underlay as this will increase the overall lifespan of the flooring.

Kitchens

Kitchens tend to be the hub in modern homes and even more so in granny flats! So designing a good functional kitchen with durable stone bench tops and energy efficient dishwasher is the pro tip here. Choosing stone benchtops ensures maximum longevity out of your kitchen as opposed to laminate, it’s also far more appealing. Cupboard and drawer doors can also be upgraded to polyurethane which also adds durability and a gorgeous finish. Adding extra storage space via additional cupboards above the top cupboards is also a good idea. Note though that this is only for 2.7 meter wall heights! In a time poor society a dishwasher is also a godsend, it can also increase your rental asking price.

Appliances

While on the subject of energy efficient dishwashers, another key appliance that is a must is the air-conditioner. The dishwasher and air conditioner are proven to increase your asking price on your rental return.

Wall Heights

The minimum Australian standard for wall heights is 2.4 meters and this is fine for larger dwellings. Granny flats need as much space as can be created, so a higher wall height not only adds vertical space but it makes the rooms feel larger too. A prospective tenant will always prefer a more spacious feel than a smaller one. A higher wall height definitely helps to achieve that and may be the reason you get the tenant on inspection day!

 Efficiency

1. External Roof Eaves help with the cooling and heating loads on your windows and facade, especially of it’s a clad structure. Many granny flats built today only have small eaves but we provide a 485 mm eaves width on our new hip roofed granny flats – at no cost to you.
2. Sky lights add to the atmosphere with natural lighting which of course represents colours of features, decor etc in a more natural, accurate and faithful manner. Sky lights also cut lighting costs and can help make the granny flat feel larger. A south facing granny flat will often benefit from a skylight upgrade.
3. A builder who provides higher quality insulation in not only the roof space but also the exterior and interior walls will vastly improve the granny flats thermal efficiency. Improving this saves on heating and cooling costs.  Again, happy tenants are better tenants naturally!

There are so many options available when building a new granny flat with Granny Flat Sydney, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Keeping future value, durability, maintenance, replacement costs and most importantly livability in mind should help you make smarter choices with your granny flat investment in Sydney.

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When it comes to building your new granny flat, who you choose as your builder can certainly affect the final product. It’s important to research and get to know your builder before moving ahead with the granny flat process. Never be afraid to ask questions because a qualified and experienced granny flat builder will want to share their portfolio and assist with your questions.

What should you be looking for?

1. Price is always a factor but don’t let it be a decisive one. Finding a quality builder that you get along with is equally important when it comes to reviewing and making alterations of your project!
2. Effective Granny flat builders recognise the difference to a new home build . The fact is granny flats have to be designed and built within an existing environment. There’s also the disruption to services and communication with tenants for example. This is the difference between a good builder and an excellent one. So get it done right without the hassles – first go!
3. Making sure your builder is qualified and fully insured. Make sure your entire project is being built with licensed professionals and find out what their insurances cover and what guarantees and warranties are in place.
4. Don’t hesitate to ask your potential builder if you can view his past granny flat projects or current portfolio. Seeing their work or how they work will give you insight into their build quality and process.

If there is something specific or unique you want in your granny flat, be sure that the builder is willing and capable of carrying it out. For example, can the builder do a double storey granny flat? Can he work around obstacles like trees, sewer, drainage and other site specific issues? Ask your builder if they have experience with your specific request. If they don’t it may be time to find a new builder.

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When it comes to choosing your floor covering for your new granny flat, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. Choosing floor coverings is one of the most important choices you will make in regards to interior materials. At Granny Flat Sydney we offer a range of floor types ranging from various Carpets, Wood options and Tiles of various sizes. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages but first it’s worth considering:

1. The intended use of your new granny flat? – rental, family, teenagers retreat?
2. If rented, will your new granny flat have pets?
3. If a specific or elderly family member, do they have allergies or do they need a softer finish?

Below, we look at the pros and cons of the popular floor types in granny flat designs:

Carpet

Advantages:

• Comfortable and soft – adds a welcoming touch to any room.
• Huge range of colours, patterns and fibre types – making it easy to match your colour scheme.
• Adds aesthetic appeal to some rooms
• Warm – superior insulating qualities to many other flooring types, can reduce heating costs.
• Great with elderly occupants. It can be somewhat safer than alternatives in the unfortunate case of a fall.

Disadvantages:

• Can be unpleasant to people sensitive to allergens.
• Requires more maintenance.
• Stains can be difficult to remove.

Hardwood Flooring

Advantages:

• Wood flooring is not only appealing, it also works with just about any decor. With quite a large range of wood types and stains its fair to say the right tone is available for any granny flat.
• Superior to carpet for allergy sufferers.
• Easy to mop and vacuum.
• Middle ground between the warmth of carpet to the coolness of tiling.

Disadvantages:

• Can be damaged from heavy objects resting for periods.
• Can suffer impact dents from dropped objects and high heels
• Some timbers can be slippery so care needs to be taken when it comes to children and the elderly.

Tiles

Advantages:

• Tiles like previous flooring types are extremely versatile and very popular with granny flats in Sydney.
• Simple to maintain.
• Cost effective.

Disadvantages:

• Can be slippery and hard.
• Slightly poorer thermal properties – cold to the touch in winter.
• Can potentially increase energy costs in regards to heating loads.

Every granny flat Granny Flat Sydney is different so deciding which flooring type comes down to your personal taste, the granny flats purpose and the flooring types advantages and disadvantages. At the end of the day it’s your budget which may determine your choice but it pays to know the differences.

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