House for my Parents

[EddieWalker]

After seven years of trying, my parents sold their house in California and have moved to Texas. When I built my house, I planned on building another for them right behind mine. Sewer, water and power where all laid out for this. We didn't have a plan then, and the area wasn't cleared or leveled, but over the years, we've worked towards getting it ready.

While building, they are living in their RV. It's very nice and they are in no rush to get the house done. The less we spend on it, the better, so if it takes a little longer with us doing the labor, that's just fine.

The plan I came up with is 2,000 sq ft. Three bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms and a small office. One story, easy to clean and big enough to entertain, but also small enough to not be very wasteful. Most of the walls will be 8ft tall, except the open middle area, which will have 9 ft walls. The family room will have a vaulted ceiling, the kitchen, dining and master will have raised ceilings.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

We had to add about 50 yards of dirt to build up the pad. My dad did all that with the backhoe, one yard at a time. I spread and leveled it off, then measured it out and put in the forms. Then I measured and marked the locations of all the drain lines, the water main and the water lines to the island in the kitchen. Dad and I both dug the trenches, but he did the hard part by digging around the other lines going to their RV to get to the sewer and water lines.

Eddie

 

[phiferpharm]

Good for you and your folks Eddie. I know that it can be very enjoyable from a parents perspective to be with their kids as they get into the golden years. I'm sure we all will be following your progress and wish you and your folks the best of times on your build.

 

[dave1949]

Nice, Eddie. They are going to love it.

 

[Ductape]

Eddie, you are so lucky to have that opportunity ! I'll be watching how this comes along.... no doubt just as interesting as the rest of your projects.

 

[Artisan]

You might want to think ahead, as in wheelchairs and accessibility.
The shower, no dam, max .5" drop or just slope it all. No stairs, all
ramps... The lavs, countertop w/ wheelchair access under. HC toilets
w/ backing in ALL walls for grab rails. You know what to do I am sure.

 

[EddieWalker]

You might want to think ahead, as in wheelchairs and accessibility.
The shower, no dam, max .5" drop or just slope it all. No stairs, all
ramps... The lavs, countertop w/ wheelchair access under. HC toilets
w/ backing in ALL walls for grab rails. You know what to do I am sure.

I'm doing all that except for the wheelchair access under the counters. Guess if it comes to that, I'll change what I have to.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[WilliamBos]

Are things that bad in California that it takes that long to sell a house? People don't want to live there?

After seven years of trying, my parents sold their house in California and have moved to Texas. When I built my house, I planned on building another for them right behind mine. Sewer, water and power where all laid out for this. We didn't have a plan then, and the area wasn't cleared or leveled, but over the years, we've worked towards getting it ready.

While building, they are living in their RV. It's very nice and they are in no rush to get the house done. The less we spend on it, the better, so if it takes a little longer with us doing the labor, that's just fine.

The plan I came up with is 2,000 sq ft. Three bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms and a small office. One story, easy to clean and big enough to entertain, but also small enough to not be very wasteful. Most of the walls will be 8ft tall, except the open middle area, which will have 9 ft walls. The family room will have a vaulted ceiling, the kitchen, dining and master will have raised ceilings.

Eddie

View attachment 279081

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Wow, looks like there is TONS of storage space. That is a big plus! :thumbsup:

 

[EddieWalker]

Problem with selling in CA is that whatever you want for your place, the buyers know that the price will be less next year. Makes it hard to find somebody wanting to pay anything close to the asking price. Twelve years after buying their house, the sold it for what they paid for it.

Eddie

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Are things that bad in California that it takes that long to sell a house? People don't want to live there?

Anytime, anywhere, if it takes longer than whatever normal for that area happens to be, then either the asking price is to high or there are other problems-concerns. That applies to any place.

With over 37 million people living in the state, it is pretty hard to say that no one wants to live here. It would be fine with me if 32 million of them moved up to Canada. You guys wouldn't mind if your countries population doubled would you?

 

[Pete Judd]

Be careful about putting them on your property, we did the same thing about 15 years ago when we put the in-laws on our place, in a triple wide, they hold the mortgage on the house (house only) but I paid for the second septic (over 10K) and other improvements as well as most of the maintance. They now are getting very close to end of life, and the equity in the house will be split 3 ways and one third is my BIL, who is worthless. The BIL and SIL have been on welfare for the last 15 years. The house is on a conditional use permit, and can only be occupied by a family member. If the house is split up and moved, it has almost no value. I don't want my worthless BIL living on my property, but my wife thinks otherwise. If you feel some anger in this reply it may be there, as all this was not planned for 15 years ago when I said OK to the plan. On the up side having my wife so close to her parents, she has been able to do a lot for them in the way of dealing with the day to day of elder care.

 

[jimmyj]

Eddie, you are so lucky to have that opportunity ! I'll be watching how this comes along.... no doubt just as interesting as the rest of your projects.

x2. Congrats.

 

[MarkV]

Eddie thats great. My folks are 600 miles from me and at the point in life where it is hard for me to be as much help as I want to be. To late for them to consider a move. I sure wish they were closer.

My only suggestion on your house plan is you better put in a BIG doggie door for those evening Oscar wants to curl up with the folks and watch TV.

MarkV

 

[TripleR]

Very nice plans, congratulations.

My brother sold his house just north of San Fransisco fifteen years ago and it was a bear to sell even then due to base closings etc., another brother bailed a few years before that. Now my brothers and mother live all within six miles as do three of our four children with the other living eighteen miles; just can't beat a close family.

 

[Bird]

Looks like some real nice house plans.

 

[WilliamBos]

Yes, we would mind. We will let California keep them.

Anytime, anywhere, if it takes longer than whatever normal for that area happens tobe, then either the asking price is to high or there are other problems-concerns. That applies to any place.

With over 37 million people living in the state, it is pretty hard to say that no one wants to live here. It would be fine with me if 32 million of them moved up to Canada. You guys wouldn't mind if your countries population doubled would you?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Yes, we would mind. We will let California keep them.

Ah come on, just think of the increased tax base. In reality though, I don't blame you one bit.

 

[EddieWalker]

We got all the trenches dug for the drain and vent lines. Installed them and will get them covered up and compacted in a day or so. There are a few more lines to run under the slab, then I need to locate and dig footings to support the load of the beam that will span the great room and as well as the load bearing wall down the middle of the house.

I'm giving my dad the shopping list for rebar. 36 sticks of #4 and 70 sticks of #3. That should all be done this week. The pad will be treated for termites this week and we'll be ready for concrete some time next week.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[jinman]

Eddie, I really like your plan, but was surprised to not see a toilet in the master bath. Of course, the hall bath is just outside the bedroom, but I'd expect a toilet in the master bath for later resale. There will come a time the house is sold or at least occupied by someone else, so that's a consideration even if your parents don't think they need it now. Also with those two bedrooms isolated at the far end of the house, I'd try to make it so I could close them off from the rest of the house with a door and eliminate heating/cooling costs. If they aren't being occupied, it seems useless to heat/cool them.

Just curious. . . will they keep the motorhome after the house is built? Have they been driving it back and forth to CA or has it stayed parked at your house for a long time?