Five Tips for Your Garage-to-Room Conversion

Converting your garage into extra living space is a great idea if you have new family members living with you, you need to rent out a room for extra cash or just want to have a dedicated craft or hobby space. However, it’s not just a matter of picking up your hammer and some nails—you need to be careful to follow all guidelines and regulations before you start getting to work or hiring a contractor.

Here are our best garage-to-room conversion tips in Tyler, TX—and when you’re ready to get started, call Canfield Construction Management to design and create the conversion of your dreams:

• Check with your homeowners association: If your home is governed by a homeowners association, you’ll need to check your CC&Rs (covenants, codes and restrictions) to see if they allow for a garage-to-room conversion. If the construction isn’t permitted, you could face steep fines and other unpleasant consequences. However, you may still be able to appeal the board or find loopholes—your HOA will take into account what kind of effect this construction will have on your neighborhood. For example, will there be increased traffic? Will there be too many people now living in the home? Will it compromise your neighbors’ privacy in any way? These are the kinds of factors that the HOA might consider sticking points.
• Check your zoning ordinances: Once you’ve confirmed that your HOA won’t stand in your way, you need to check the zoning ordinances for your specific building and your neighborhood in general. Some towns and cities have restrictions about off-site parking, while others are less amenable to renting out rooms.
• Gather the documents you’ll need for permits: You need a building permit to do any sort of renovation or construction work on your home. This is so the city can ensure that your construction follows the permissible use guidelines. You might need a floor plan, plot plan and a map that shows any elevation setbacks—your contractor can help you apply for these permits and gather documents. Whatever you do, don’t do any construction without a building permit. If discovered, you may be subject to heavy penalties and the cost of converting your space back to its original form.
• Plan to start and end on time: Building permits come with time restrictions, and you may end up needing to request an extension if construction doesn’t finish on time. Plan to start and end your construction within the allotted time—ask potential contractors for time estimates and when they’ll be able to begin.
• Find the right contractors: Hiring the right professionals is crucial in making sure you get the results you want. Make sure you thoroughly vet at least three different construction companies, comparing price, timelines and reviews and testimonials.

When you’re ready to start construction on your garage-to-room conversion in Tyler, TX, or if you’d like more tips, reach out to the team at Canfield Construction Management. We’ll help you design and create your new living space—schedule an appointment today!

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