Creating an In-Law Apartment

[Russell Gronsky]

Hey all,

I'm moving to a new area for work in about 4 months. I'll be there between 2-4 years. I'm planning to do a live-in flip on an SFR and to help me with making mortgage payments while I live in the house, I want to build an in-law apartment in the basement. I am looking for a house with a walk-out basement that already has a finished full bath to make things easier and cheaper.

I've done remodels before but never added kitchens or apartments. So, If a house with a basement already has a finished full bath, would I run into expensive modifications to add a kitchen sink, drain, and dishwasher? In particular, I am worried about being able to add a drain to the kitchen sink I'd need to install? Would that be hard or would I likely be able to tap into the shower drain already in place?

Would I run into issues pulling water into the kitchen sink if there is a finished full bath already?

I imagine I'll need to make sure the existing water heater can handle the extra people using hot water so probably a 50-gallon tank or even a tankless water heater will need to be installed?

Do I need to install a separate heating/cooling system for the in-law apartment or is there a modification that can be done to the existing HVAC system to add separate zones?

And I would have to register the new apartment with the county to get permits and update their drawings?

Any other major "got ya" I should be watching for?

Thank you all in advance.

-Russ