The twilight of a person’s life can be hard not just for them, but for their family as well. No father or mother wants to feel like a burden to their family or that they’re losing their independence. Likewise, no son or daughter wants to feel as if they’re letting their parents down. While aging can be difficult for some, it is a time of transition that will be easier once you have some plans in place.

For most of us, it’s not a question of “if” we’ll take care of our parents but “how.” One option that Better Built Barns can supply is a custom-built in-law cabin. A brand new cabin can be delivered and placed on your property, so you can take care of your loved ones, and they can still have some form of the independence they’re used to.

What is an In-law Apartment?

An in-law apartment is a small dwelling that can be connected to the main home, the garage, or sit independently on the property.

The important features of an in-law apartment include a separate entrance from the main home, a small kitchen, and a small bathroom along with the rest of your typical amenities. This makes it easy for families to be there for their parents when they’re needed, and for parents to maintain their independence.

It is important to consider the legal implications that come with the name as an in-law apartment, like any other, has to have the amenities outlined above to be considered a legal dwelling for rent.

Why Does It Work?

No matter what your age, living with your parents or the parents of your spouse can be stressful. Both of you will have constant access to each other’s lives and it will likely change your perception of how the other person lives. Things like this are part of life, but there are ways to mitigate the impact of having your in-laws move in.

Here are a few ways an in-law apartment can help with that:

• It sets boundaries – There are a few bad habits that we’ve all seen in people we’ve lived with. Some of them are big enough to break up the living situation. While this is less likely to happen with your parents than a roommate in college, you’re still probably hoping that you don’t walk in on them in the bathroom or tell them to pick up after themselves.
• Having a separate dwelling gives everyone a sense of ownership over their space and a healthy respect for being in another person’s home when you’re visiting each other.
• It provides privacy – A happy marriage needs private time, time to enjoy each other and grow with your spouse. Having to constantly interact with another couple, even your parents can throw a wrench in that. If you have the option of eliminating that complication, why not do it?

What We Can Do For You

At Better Built Barns, we design custom-built cabins to your exact specifications; up to 720 square feet. We can provide your in-laws with plenty of space to live independently, and they can even be involved in designing the space! Plumbing and electrical features will have to be invested in separately, but we can design a space that provides for easy installation and have it up in a couple of days.

If you’re interested in a unique and beautiful option for keeping your parents close, then consider Better Built Barns services today!