Building a Multigenerational Home: Benefits, Challenges, and Solutions
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Living in a multigenerational home has been a game-changer for my family. With the rising costs of living and the need for family support, it’s no wonder more families are considering this lifestyle.
Today, I want to share the benefits and challenges of multigenerational living, along with some practical solutions based on our experiences.
Many of you have been following us for a long time! We have been multigenerational living for 14 years now and sometimes I look back and say, “how has 14 years past?”
Multigenerational Compound Project
Building a multigenerational home in my opinion, is one of the best investments you can make. With the rising cost of living and the inability to find affordable housing, I think you will start to see more and more families, combining resources.
We recently took on a new client who wants Jim to build a multigenerational compound with a large common area and two individual wings on each side. It’s a pretty cool setup!
This design will provide shared and private spaces, perfect for maintaining family connections while ensuring everyone has their own space.
Check out our recent blog post about the land for sale where they plan to build this fantastic home!
Popularity of One-Floor Living
One-floor living is becoming increasingly popular, not just for the baby boomer generation but also for my generation and younger ones.
The convenience and accessibility of single-story homes make them an attractive option for families of all ages.
This trend highlights the practicality and ease of living in a well-designed, multigenerational home.
Last week I shared a handful of multigenerational home floor plan ideas that sparked my mom and I to dig a little bit and do some research on layouts and designs.
One feature that we would like in our next house, are separate kitchens (more of an in-law setup) but still all under one roof.
Benefits of Multigenerational Living
Financial Savings
One of the biggest advantages of multigenerational living is the financial savings.
Sharing living expenses like rent or mortgage, utilities, and groceries can significantly reduce the financial burden on everyone.
I can tell you that sharing in living expenses from my point of view, is a tremendous help.
Right now, we split everything 50/50. In this day and age with the ridiculous cost of living, this arrangement works perfectly for us.
Imagine having someone to split all your house bills with?
The cost of living is beyond ridiculous right now and our living arrangement is worth the privacy tradeoff especially in the state of todays economy.
Enhanced Family Support
Having family around provides an incredible support system.
When my son was younger, I could rely on my parents for help with my son and it worked out perfectly when both of my grandparents were alive and living with us as well.
I have always worked from home so as my grandparents aged, it was a huge benefit for me to always be around.
We did have to set some boundaries in the beginning because even though I worked from home, that didn’t mean I was “at their disposal 24/7.”
I will never forget the time the TV stopped working and my grandfather expected me to stop what I was doing and fix the TV immediately.
I was like, “umm if I worked outside of the house 15 minutes away, would you be calling me to leave work to come home and fix your tv immediately?”
Let’s just say, he quickly realized he needed to pretend I wasn’t there in the house for silly stuff! I told him if someone was dying or fell, then he could demand my services! 😂
For those of you who remember my grandfather, he was a woot and one of my most favorite humans on the planet. I miss him :(.
Challenges and Solutions in Multigenerational Living
Privacy Concerns
Privacy is a common concern in multigenerational homes.
Designing the home with privacy in mind is crucial.
You may remember our previous home (my childhood home that my parents owned), we had multiple entrances and 2.5 kitchens. This was the best setup for a multigenerational home by far.
My parents sold that home, 6 years ago mostly because it was too big and we ultimately didn’t need all of the space.
It was perfect when we had 4 generations under one roof but when my grandparents died, we really didn’t need multiple kitchens and 15 rooms.
One thing to consider with a multigenerational home is soundproofing and thoughtful layout design to help maintain personal space.
If you do not have the luxury of having separate entrances and/or 2 kitchens, then “really” think long and hard about your layout and strive for 2 “tv rooms” at minimum.
Creating private areas where each family member can retreat to makes a big difference. It allows privacy for each family to enjoy time together without feeling crowded.
Financial Arrangements
Agreeing on financial contributions beforehand is essential.
Have a contract if necessary. We do not have a contract as we don’t find it necessary but if there is any hesitation that one party may not always fulfill their end of the bargain, then put it in writing!
Our system is simple.
I pay the mortgage and my parents pay the taxes and we split the utilities 50/50.
At the end of the month, my mom writes me a check for 1/2 of utilities and that’s how we have done it for the last 6 years. It works!
We also have an understand that if someone wants something for the house, then they plan on paying for it unless we have discussed it beforehand.
For example, when we remodeled the house last year, both my mom and I agreed that the floors, painting and kitchen needed to be updated so we agreed to split the cost 50/50.
Now, if my mom (I say my mom because my dad just goes along for the ride 😂) had not agreed or didn’t want to help with the cost, then I would have been responsible for paying the full cost.
Not a big deal but we have an understanding that if one person “wants something” for the house, then they need to assume they are paying for it.
I would never go out and buy a large ticket item and expect my parents to pay 1/2 the cost!
Another example is when my dad wanted to have the driveway seal coated. It really didn’t need it but he wanted it done so he said, “I want the driveway done and I’m taking care of it so don’t worry about the cost.”
I love those situations! haha.
Depending on the situation, you may have a different arrangement. If setting up a household budget and an expense-sharing system works for you to ensure transparency, then do that.
Regular financial meetings can also help keep everyone on the same page.
Discussing and agreeing on how expenses will be divided up front, prevents potential conflicts.
It’s important to have these conversations early and maintain open communication about finances.
Handling Conflicts
Living together can lead to conflicts, but clear communication channels and setting boundaries helped us manage.
Respecting each other’s personal space and setting boundaries is crucial.
For example, I would not have loud parties on a regular basis or be loud at night simply because that would be rude and inconsiderate of my parents.
The times that Jim and I may have friends over, we often plan it when they are away or give them a heads up of our plans.
Open communication and a willingness to address issues as they arose helped us navigate living together smoothly.
When my grandparents lived with us, we had more conflicts (different kinds of conflicts as my grandfather had severe dementia towards the end of his life) that we navigated the best we could.
Ultimately, my grandfather spent the last year of his life in a nearby nursing home which was equipped to care and keep him safe.
All in all, multigenerational living has proven a huge benefit in my life and my son’s as well. I am curious, who is currently living with family under one roof or plans to in the future?
Visit our multigenerational living page for more posts.
Meet Jessica
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
