As people age, the house they’re currently in may no longer meet their needs. But they love the house, the neighborhood, and their neighbors and don’t want to start all over again somewhere new.
“Many older homeowners want us to give them that one floor living in their current homes, so main floor primary suites are a very popular request,” says Mark Williams, founder and owner of RSU Contractors. “There are also situations where aging parents are moving with their children and their families, or those children are moving back in with their parents. This primary suite gives them their own little apartment.”
One Brentwood couple, Richard and Joy Miller, who live in the Inglehame Farms neighborhood, actually had a contract on another home that would give them that one-floor living, but ultimately decided they didn’t want to move.
“I had an epiphany about two o'clock in the morning and thought, ‘What are we doing? We have this perfect location,’” says Joy. Plus, their house was the central hub for their family and they wanted plenty of room for everyone to come and visit.
Adds Richard, “It seemed a little over the top to add a sixth bedroom when it’s just me and my wife, but she convinced me. I also realized we were adding square footage to the house, and it wasn't necessarily just a luxury like adding a pool.”
So, they reached out to various local contractors and ended up choosing RSU. “One of the things that was awesome about this project was the price – it was very competitive,” says Richard. It was also important for him to sit down with Mark. “I wanted to talk with him and look him in the eye and ask, ‘As the owner, are you telling me this is going to be a great project? Are you going to work with us, etc.’ He came out, sat with us, and gave us a firm handshake and the assurance that it was going to be great.”
“Adding this primary suite is an investment,” says Mark. “They're not trying to resell their house for profit, but they do want to invest money in a place where it's going to hold its value. They got immediate equity in the home.”
That was in April of 2020, and by the fall, the 550 square-foot extension was complete. RSU not only did the primary suite with a large walk-in closet, laundry area, and bathroom, but also added a kitchen pantry and an office on top of the bedroom suite.
“I wasn't looking for a fancy space, but a space that worked for us,” says Joy. “We wanted something very functional that looked great at the same time. I really liked working with RSU because they were very on board with me just doing what we needed and working with my vision.”
Of course, the team did use their expertise to assist with that vision. “One day Jim [Walker – the production manager] came in and said some LED lights would look really good over the double sinks. So, we put up those lights, and he was right. Everyone was so helpful.”
Adds Mark, “We've been in business for over 40 years. We have employees that have been with the company for 35-plus years, plus a long list of trusted vendors and subcontractors. We do a lot of work in Brentwood and have formed many great relationships.”