Building an energy-efficient secondary suite or garden suite is a great way to create a secondary income stream, support family members, and help reduce urban sprawl. When you plan your new rental suite or garden suite with Energy Efficient Homes, we’ll help you reduce your carbon footprint, lower your energy bills, and navigate all the red tape.
You’ll want to ensure maximum privacy between your living areas no matter who you’re building your secondary suite for. That’s why at Energy Efficient Homes, we specialize in installing high-quality insulation panels and sound-proofing materials that give you privacy and reduce energy consumption.
Adding a secondary income suite to your home is a big step and a worthwhile investment. However, it’s not a spontaneous decision. Anyone serious about creating a second suite in their home or a garden suite on their property must prepare for the timeline and budget. How do you know if it’s the right solution for you or your family? Here are the top three reasons why our customers build secondary income suites.
Creating a multi-generational home allows our customers to support their aging parents at home. It’s also an alternative way to create an affordable living space for adult children or grandchildren.
Other customers choose to build suites as an investment and secondary income stream. With the high demand for housing in the city, there is also a high demand for fully private suites for students or tenants to rent.
Garden suites are separate from your main home and require more capital and time due to regulations in each municipality. Investing in a garden suite is a great option if you desire more privacy or plan to subdivide.
We believe in revitalizing existing properties with infills, secondary income suites, and garden suites to give you the space you need without contributing to urban sprawl. Our approach is hands-on to give you the guidance, expertise, and leadership required to get your build the green light.
You'll need to spend time planning before starting a renovation or a new build which is why we’re here to help you every step of the way. We know which questions to ask to ensure you get the build you want within the city’s rules and regulations. That way, you’ll have peace of mind knowing there won’t be any surprises.
Our team is here to support you from conception to completion of your project. You’ll receive personal support on everything from scope to space planning, design work to architectural plans, and hiring engineers to ensure it’s all configured properly. We oversee the entire build, manage leading industry tradespeople, and handle all permits.
We’re proud to offer a passive home building envelope that pays attention to detail with high-quality insulation and sound-proofing materials. You don’t need to sacrifice quality of life and comfort to build a secondary suite. Insulation and soundproofing will also dramatically reduce utility costs, especially for garden suites.
We also plan, manage, and complete client builds virtually at Energy Efficient Homes. We’ve had overseas clients work with us to ensure their investment project is completed to their wishes, fully approved by the city, and with quality materials. Our carefully managed process will give you confidence, regardless of location.
The reality is this answer varies, depending on the scope of the project. We typically tell our clients a minimum of 9-12 months plus the time it takes to get a permit from the city.
Yes, permits from the city are required to build secondary income suites and garden suites. Different stages of the build also require inspection by the designated city before the next stage of construction begins. As building and design experts, we’ll help you navigate each stage and advise on how to avoid delays whenever possible.
The answer depends on the scope of the project. The big-ticket items that take up the bulk of the cost include utilities, subdivision costs, permits, engineering, and surveying feeds—these costs are non-negotiable and require significant pre-planning. We’ll price out the job in stages and provide you with full details for every project.
No, but we have qualified referral partners who can help you find financing.
Yes, there are GST rebates for building garden suites that can qualify you for thousands of dollars in rebates.
A passive home is a building that achieves the ideal temperature in all seasons with minimal heating and cooling. We achieve this with high-quality insulation, airtight designs, efficient ventilation systems with heat recovery, and adequate window and door design. Passive homes can be up to 90% more efficient than regular homes and are a more accurate term than net-zero homes.
If you’re ready to put your plans for a secondary income suite or garden suite into action, give us a call. Our team offers customer support and expert advice to give you the space you need, keep you and your tenants happy, and save you money on your utility bills.