Zero Conditional: Garden Suites - An Affordable and Profitable Choice (Review)

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In large cities, finding an [vocab word=affordable]affordable[/vocab] place to rent can sometimes feel like [vocab word=chase]chasing[/vocab] a dream. However, [vocab word=garden]garden[/vocab] [vocab word=suite]suites[/vocab] can make that dream more [vocab word=attainable]attainable[/vocab]. But what exactly are garden suites? Well, when a house has a smaller, [vocab word=separate]separate[/vocab] [vocab word=living area]living area[/vocab] in the backyard, that area is called a garden suite. This smaller [vocab word=dwelling]dwelling[/vocab] usually includes a bedroom, bathroom, and a small kitchen. Many city [vocab word=dweller]dwellers[/vocab] turn to garden suites as an [vocab word=option]option[/vocab] for affordable living.

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Let's [vocab word=discuss]discuss[/vocab] why garden suites make city dwelling more affordable. Firstly, a garden suite is part of a larger property. Therefore, if you live in one, you often pay less in rent than for a house or an apartment. For example, if an apartment in the city costs $2000 to rent, a garden suite might only cost you $1500.

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Secondly, garden suites are [vocab word=ideal]ideal[/vocab] for people who want to maintain their [vocab word=peace]peace[/vocab] and quiet. In an apartment, if your neighbor plays loud music, you just have to [vocab word=endure]endure[/vocab] the noise. [vocab word=conversely]Conversely[/vocab], in a garden suite, if your neighbor makes noise in the [vocab word=main]main[/vocab] house, the [vocab word=distance]distance[/vocab] between the main house and your garden suite can reduce the sound. [vocab word=furthermore]Furthermore[/vocab], unlike a shared house, a garden suite is a separate [vocab word=building]building[/vocab]. This allows the renter to enjoy [vocab word=privacy]privacy[/vocab].

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But what if you're the [vocab word=homeowner]homeowner[/vocab]? How does having a garden suite on your property [vocab word=benefit]benefit[/vocab] you? If you own a property with a backyard, you have the option to build a garden suite. This suite can [vocab word=generate]generate[/vocab] rental [vocab word=income]income[/vocab] to help you with your [vocab word=mortgage]mortgage[/vocab]. For example, a typical garden suite can generate about $1500 per month in rent in Ontario, Canada. If you spend $200,000 to construct a garden suite, you can earn back the construction cost in 11 years. After 11 years, you can enjoy the [vocab word=additional]additional[/vocab] income of $1500 each month. So, a garden suite could be a great investment option for property owners with a big backyard.

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However, not everything about garden suites is perfect. They [vocab word=require]require[/vocab] maintenance. If something is broken inside the suite, it needs to be fixed. This could mean extra expenses. Your backyard privacy might also be affected. If you have a garden suite renter, they share the garden space with you. This can be a problem if you [vocab word=value]value[/vocab] privacy. Perhaps the biggest [vocab word=disadvantage]disadvantage[/vocab] is the reduced backyard area if you decide to build a garden suite. It may not be the best choice for you if you love spending time in your backyard.

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Garden suites provide renters with the benefit of lower rentals while offering property owners a healthy return on investment. Like any other option, if you [vocab word=select]select[/vocab] this one, you should be prepared to [vocab word=handle]handle[/vocab] some inconveniences. These include extra maintenance costs and the loss of your backyard space. However, if these are not major issues for you, a garden suite might be the perfect option for renting or for investment.