The Shipping Container Conversion for Granny Flats

In the Australian context of looking after their loved ones, the most popular choice is to create a granny flat. It's a small home that creates a way to have the elderly parents or relatives on the same property, but it doesn't mean that they infringe on the family, or that they lose their sense of independence. A container home presents an excellent solution to this problem of building a new home from scratch. The build can be costly, time-consuming, and in some cases impossible with standard building methods.

But a shipping container conversion presents solutions to these problems.

Cost Savings

For the average home, it's the cost that matters most in the build. If the homeowner can save a tremendous amount of money by choosing a different style of granny flat, it's the conversion of a shipping container that becomes the most appealing option. It is a fraction of the price of a new small home, and the materials are incredibly easy to secure. Containers can be found in every major city around the world, and there is always a market to offload a container. 

Shipping Container Conversion Construction

Another factor that plays on the minds of those wanting to build a granny flat is the time and energy it will cost to undertake the project. Granny flats, although smaller in size, can be just as time-consuming as a standard-sized home. They can impose on the family in the house for months at a time. The container offers a unique solution to this problem. The construction, or at least a large majority, can be done off-site. The finished project can then be craned and installed on the property once the major construction has already been completed. In many cases, although it's best to check with the council, a granny flat made from a shipping container conversion attracts less permitting requirements due to its size and dimensions. 

Small Home for Lease

Even if the main priority is to create a granny flat out back for relatives, it's still a good opportunity for the average family to create a side income. Travellers looking for accommodations love to use travel-share sites that allow them to stay in homes around the country while they tour. A small granny flat, a self-container home, can offer the family a good income while still respecting the boundaries of both the homeowner and the guest.

Even if the custom of caring for the elderly seen in Eastern cultures hasn't yet become popular in Australia, it still is good to know that a shipping container conversion can offer opportunities to look after the parents and offer a place to stay for guests and still respect the privacy that Australians value so much. So for the lower cost, the less hassle, and the growing opportunity, a container home out back might become the new normal.