This Popular Outdoor Structure From Costco Might Not Be Available For Long

For under $5,000, you can add on to your living space. Plus, you can build it yourself in a weekend. The SunVilla Milton Outdoor Suite is a metal and glass structure with modern appeal that, apparently, even amateurs can piece together in their yard. In this stunning outbuilding, you have a potential gym, granny pod, greenhouse, playhouse, or anything else you can think of.

When Costco rolled out the SunVilla kits, they sold out in a flash. Just this month, they've reappeared after many weeks of twiddling our thumbs. Considering how quickly people snapped up the first batch, this next round is bound to fly off the shelves just as rapidly. The question is, is the SunVilla all it's chalked up to be? Are the shoppers who nabbed a SunVilla the first time around as lucky as we think they are? The reviews are rave, and the supply is likely to be limited. So, what are the pros and cons of this extremely tempting product?

When something sells like hotcakes, it gets lots of attention. Add on 4- and 5-star consumer reviews and the product seems worthy of the hype. ADUs are a luxurious trend, and they can boost your home's value. Short for "accessory dwelling units," these outdoor rooms can cost several times the price of the SunVilla Milton. High-end ADUs are well-suited to provide extra living space, often equipped with kitchens and bathrooms. The SunVilla Milton is a more pared-down version of these mini-studios, but at a tiny fraction of the cost, so you won't miss the cooking facilities.

The Milton is 10x12 feet and has a sloped-roof aluminum frame and glass panel. The kit comes with two sets of sliding doors, and it includes gutters and screens that set you up for seasonal weather. Its ceiling panels have a white side designed to face outward to help keep the interior cool. The Milton is also intended to be bolted to the ground, adding extra stability.

The reviews are in, and they are enthusiastic and full of praise. Users applaud the quality they got for the price and how relatively quick it was to assemble. Some share that they've built it atop poured concrete, while others set it up on a deck. The reviews haven't been up long enough to report on how well the Milton holds up over time, but their new additions have earned the reviewers lots of compliments.

Among the few downsides to SunVilla Milton are that it doesn't include a floor or a setup to wire it for electricity. The lack of a floor can be a non-issue, say, if you'll be using it as a greenhouse. But, if you don't already have a concrete patio or large enough deck to construct the Milton on, you're bound for another project before you start this one. You can DIY a concrete pad to save some green, but regardless, it's an essential task you have to complete before your build.

As well, "easy to assemble" appears to be relative. While there's no need to enlist professionals for construction, multiple reviewers mentioned that putting it together took longer than the advertised 6 hours. The materials come in packages weighing up to 250 pounds, so this is definitely not a solo DIY. New owners admit that assembly took between 10 hours and up to nearly two days, with at least three strong helpers pitching in. If you're able to get past the initial hoops, including properly preparing your yard and building the structure, then the SunVilla Milton appears to be a sound investment for whatever you intend to use it for outdoors.