probably too late now but my suggestions include 1. exchange the glass slider in the laundry for timber framed glass door with venetian, 2. changing the internal laundry door position allows for extra storage, accessed from the hallway, while still allowing 2.7m laundry counter with space for a drop in sink, under bench basket, washer and floor standing dryer (very happy with this arrangement with wall cabinets and hanging rail) 3, reducing the depth of the pantry to 1200 and changing the pantry door allows better use of the space, easy access to set down counter for fridge and unloading groceries into the pantry, room for full size freezer and the space taken off the pantry is added to 4. bigger bedroom with smaller wardrobe and the re-positioned door gives more flexible use of the bedroom and extra storage from the hallway...BTW check out the good tax rules for owners who rent their homes for up to six years..

Good to hear this has triggered review........re the basement costs, it depends upon how it's done. Either way you are doing 2 other separate garages that would be rolled into one. it involves negotiating levels, grading driveway at the higher end to get down so there could be some increased complexity.....but it's hard to make an accurate comment on numbers...... Catherine when you are doing something of this scale it's critical you are working with people/designers who are ALL OVER the costs in relation to design decisions and options. If they can't provide you with this advice and it's just design/plans/drawings that then get handed back to you to discuss potential costs with a builder, then I'd argue they're not up to the task. Before we do anything we robustly thrash out just numbers and project scope relationships (ie no detailed drawing!) and it deals effectively with the major issues and project alignments at the right time, and mitigates the nasty surprises or wasting resource pursuing options that are not viable. Either way, as I previously commented, as it's drawn currently it's a relatively expensive design that is arguably not delivering you the value/potential that you'd expect for an expensive design if you get what I'm saying. You will be paying a certain amount for a split, staggered or two level building (which is essentially two residences in one) and when you're getting into this type of construction ( basement or garages + driveway with a building of certain complexity & size) it will pretty much cost a similar ballpark whichever way you configure it.........BUT the outcome with be DRAMATICALLY different one way or the other, comparing designs of different levels of quality. Good design is not necessarily more expensive, rather it is better considered and gives you more for your money.

Hi oklouise, In the shorter term, I was going to live in the granny flat and rent out the main house to people I know or 2-3 international uni students. In the longer term, I would like to have it as a lowset living option for my mum who is in her late 70's. Somewhere, low maintenance, where she can keep her independence (as would I), but has me close by to provide her assistance where required. The original house has 3 bedrooms (the 3rd one is only 3.1 x 2.65m with no built in wardrobe. The back of the property backs onto a council park. The house is set back further from the front than all of the neighbouring properties (greater than 7 metres). The area under the current house would just be used for carparking and storage. The remaining length of my backyard from my back steps is 18.6 metres. I don't think it would necessary add value to my property, but rather provide me with an income as well as options for family or friends that need the accommodation. I hope to keep the house for the long term.

The approx 60sqm space doesn't include the stairs and is only one bedroom. I haven't decided on laundry as it could be possible to share the existing one which opens off the existing garage. The external stairs would be adjacent to the side door off the garage which is next to the laundry. I don't already have plans but have been playing around with a floor plan myself. That is why I'd like a little input on the design possibilities. Using the upstairs area myself might be possible one day, but not for the foreseeable future as I have two dogs and need the yard. I also have a number of interests for which I need my existing space. Additionally I don't want a whole houseful of tenants with which I would have to cohabit. Ideally it will just be one person. Thank you for your suggestions re the MyAgedCare Program, but I have just had the experience of that process with my own mother. The waiting lists for care are very long and even just getting assessed takes a long time. Last time I heard there were 90,000 people on the waiting list and some 16,000 died in 2018/19 while waiting. Additionally, you only get a few hours assistance a week, there is no live in or on call help and a lot of the money gets eaten up in admin costs. It doesn't hold a lot of appeal for me in it's current form. Hopefully the Royal Commission will result in some improvements and it may provide a better service by the time I might be in need of it. I have considered buying another house on a bigger block where I could put a granny flat , but haven't found anything suitable. Most houses which offer this possibility are unrenovated so I would have to do a full reno on the house as well as build the granny flat. When you consider the costs and disruption involved in that, plus the costs of selling and buying and moving, it just seems all too hard. That's why I've come back to this option.