Specialize in custom ADU design & construction by complying with the building codes. It includes ‘above-the-garage’ units, semi-detached Granny Flats or garage-converted backyard cottages that serve the purpose of in-law suites or home-offices.
One of the most important advantages of having an ADU at your property is to have an additional source of income, by using it as a rental unit. You can rent out the place as a guest accommodation or as an office space. A lot of homeowners in California are using it as an Airbnb housing unit. As they are affordable to build when compared to buying a new home, it definitely helps solve the problem of space scarcity at home, when your family is growing in size. It provides complete privacy to the occupants, if it is a fully detached ADU. What’s more, an ADU construction helps in increasing the resale value of your property by two-three folds. Recent statistics reveal that an accessory dwelling unit or a Granny Flat enhances the property value by almost 51-53% in a city like Santa Ana, if you plan to sell it in the future.
A comparatively recent study performed in 2012 revealed that ADUs contributed about 28% to 35% of a property’s value. Moreover, an accessory dwelling unit improved the existing value of a home by almost 51%, which is an average figure. Prospective home buyers look for extra space, which they get from an ADU or an attached or detached Granny Flat. In this way, they do not have to spend anything extra on space upgradation after purchasing the property from an owner. This is the reason why having an ADU at a property is bound to increase the value and asking price of your home. The average or approximate figure of price appreciation of a property is anything between 51-53%.
There are 5 common types of ADUs. First being attached ADUs that are primarily attached to the main building or house, with a separate entrance and an internal connection with the main house. It can either be an attached garage or a new unit built in an attached style. Detached ADUs are fully separate units in the backyard, with a setback of 4-5 ft. from the rear and side. They are known as backyard cottages or stand-alone units. Above garage ADUs are built over the garage, by strengthening the walls & structures. In this way you retain your garage where you can park your car. Whereas, a garage converted ADU is built by converting an old & unused lying garage into a fully habitable unit with all the amenities. It can be a master bedroom with a bath or a complete family suite. Then, there is a basement conversion ADU, though in California homes do not have any basement.
Before constructing an ADU, you need to know about the permit & approval process. A complete design-plan needs to be submitted to the local municipal authority or the building department for getting an approval, which takes around 60 days of time. Once approved, the permits are issued by the local issuing body or authority. It is easy to obtain the permits, if the design master-plan is created flawlessly by a professional like us, by mentioning all the setbacks, size and dimension. As per the latest ADU construction guidelines, a single family residence can now build two ADUs on a single property. One being a Regular and the other one a Junior accessory dwelling unit. As per the recent legislation, you do not have to pay any Impact Fee for an ADU which is less than 750 sq. ft. in size. The maximum size limit is 1200 sq. ft for a detached unit and 500 sq. ft. for a JADU, with a ceiling height limit of 16’. It must comply with all the building codes.
It is because we assist you in the garage to ADU conversion process, right from day one to the final delivery of the project. In the overall process, we help obtain all the necessary approvals and permits from the local municipal authorities. Right from creating a master design-plan to submission for getting it approved, we’re always there by your side. Any design or layout changes to your accessory dwelling unit, we keep you informed. This is how trust is developed. In fact, our engineers, designers and architects try to keep the cost of construction low, without compromising on service quality.
It totally depends upon the size & design of the ADU that you’re planning to build. Converting an existing garage would cost less, when compared to building a stand-alone unit. Then, there are labor costs, permit fees and material costs. If you’re thinking of using premium quality materials, the cost would rise.
Well, it usually depends upon the size & scale of construction and complexity of ADU layout design. Furthermore, it also depends on how many design edits and changes you perform while the garage to ADU conversion project is in progress. Then there’s the number of people working on your project and the choice of materials and type of ADU.
Unless you have all the expertise and resources (manpower), never think of trying it. Always call a certified & licensed ADU contractor like us that can understand your exact project requirements, and carry out the task of garage to ADU conversion or a Granny flat construction in a fully customized way.
Probably, fall/autumn season till late winter, especially in California state, as the weather is pleasant throughout and there’s no fear of rain. So, you need not have to worry about loss of work hours, and the workers can give that extra effort and time on your project.
