Accessory dwelling units - also known as ADUs, granny flats, and in-law suites, amongst many others - are an extension from or of the primary building. In simpler terms, they are often in the same space as the major building, or they could be detached from the primary building, but they very well share the same property space. The increase in population rate in most urban centers has often led to the skyrocketing of housing. With the cost of housing on the high side, people have often resorted to other measures such as squatting with friends, sharing spaces, renting spare rooms, and or renting ADUs. Therefore, it is economically wise that as a homeowner, you weigh the option of an ADU for spare income. Whilst on the larger scale of things, it’s a step forward in the fight against homelessness.
As much as we should celebrate our small victories, it is only proper that we plan towards them adequately, so we aren’t left wanting by our end results. It is against this backdrop that it becomes imperative to have an in-depth knowledge of ADUs in order to know the pattern, style, or type which is attainable with your current home.
Types of ADUs available for me
Conventionally, there are two major forms in which ADUs could appear because, as already mentioned, they are either attached to or detached from the primary building. In essence, there are several types of ADUs out there, as should be, but they are most often determined by the preference of the homeowner and the style of the house itself. Hence, in this section, as a prospective adu owner in Redwood, you’ll come across varieties of options and hopefully find one that works perfectly.
Detached new construction: in this case, you have a mini home, which is not attached to the main building but behind it. They are ADUs that are built in the backyard consisting of the necessary live-in amenities. You could put them up for rent, use them as a guest house, or however you deem necessary.
Garage conversion: as the title implies, these types of ADUs are created by simply converting a preexisting garage into a live-in space. To obtain this, the former garage is equipped with most things a full-blown live-in space has, such as an HCI system, bathroom, kitchen, and on goes the list.
Basement conversion: like the garage conversion type of ADU, this is an attached type of ADU. Because the preexisting basement is converted into a separate apartment, this apartment could be fitted with all live-in amenities just so no one’s stay is bothered by the other. However, an exterior entrance/exit might be necessary, so there’s little or no interference.
Junior ADU: this is usually anything from tiny homes sharing the same compound as the primary building to a full-blown live-in treehouse apartment. These types of ADUs are usually less than 500 square feet.
Conclusion
Above are a few types of accessory dwelling units that allow anyone living in enjoys quite the comfortable live-in experience. It is, however, important to stress that it is often best to seek professional evaluation before choosing a particular type of ADU to create.