"She handed over ... $46,700 to a family member to build a small guest apartment in their backyard. The plan was to live there for the rest of her life, free from the stresses of an unaffordable rental market, and then leave the apartment to her family. Instead, the arrangement collapsed within a year. The unit was unfinished — with no kitchen or functioning laundry — forcing her to rely on the house."
In what recent decade could anyone even dream of $46,700 USD being enough for a quickly-built, furnished apartment to be built in a backyard with working laundry?
This sounds like it fell apart because it was never going to work and was an attempt by a family member to help an aged person who was in a bind of their own making via lack of planning.
Seems the article could make a better impact if it had some better examples of the issue. As presented, it sounds like "Nurse Joan" should have planned for retirement.
Australian family members are frequently able to setup the form work for a slab (with pipes and ducts) ready for a concrete pour, and can often rustle up a few friends to spend a couple of days propping up the walls and framework, bolting up, fixing in pre-built panels, etc.
I've done a few of these, one in the last five years, many over the last 50 - from residential to garage to barn, to tractor etc.
Start with suppliers such as: https://www.fairdinkumbuilds.com.au/products/residential-she...
brochure: https://www.fairdinkumbuilds.com.au/assets/Resources-Documen...
and hunt about - it's not fancy but doable.
With laundry? For the USD sum of under $50k? In under a year in someone's back yard?
Perhaps you might wish to re-read my comment.
I'm stating as a matter of fact that many people in Australia build out granny flats in their backyards for older relatives (or for themselves when their partners die and they pass the main house over to children) and Colourbond "sheds" are one of many available options.
A number of fabricators exist that build out trusswork and wall sections to spec. in industrial parks and ship them out for people to either put up themselves or to hire others (three, maybe four people) to put up for them.
Insulated sheds have pretty high R factors and can include regular doors, internal walls or mezzanine floors, large feature windows, etc.
I also stated (not suggested) that I've built multiple shed variations, some pretty damn slick, over the past several decades.
Do you not know how to pour concrete, plumb, pull cable, roof, cut sheet metal, etc?
My mother could tile a pretty decent floor, wall, and bathroom and she was mostly a bank clerk, accountant, school secretary, et al type.
wslh•2h ago