Chapter 08: Mother-In-Law Apartment Floorplans & DesignsAn architect will come to your house for an initial consultation and will require an up-front retainer if you decide to move forward with them. The architect will typically offer you three to four different floor plans to come up with something you like, taking into account what is most important to you. Make sure to use your two or three variations wisely as you will have to pay extra to keep making changes to your design thereafter.
When you have a finalized floor plan, it is time to draw up your building plans. Your architect will usually recommend a structural engineer who can get your plans stamped and in Title 24 compliance. (Note: Konhoff Company’s architects take care of the submission process with the city.) Pro tip: Make sure your architect, contractor and structural engineer communicate with each other to make sure you design your project within your budget and to avoid costly mistakes. Most cities we have seen have height restrictions that only allow you to build a 1-story ADU. There are all kinds of interesting and cool pictures online with floor plans that include lofts. Some even dig a few feet into the ground so they can fit in a cool loft without going over the height restriction. Unless you have a very large budget or don't care about your project as an investment, these type of floor plans are not advised. Right now, the construction costs are expensive in high-demand California coastal areas and you will end up increasing your budget. If you want to keep your project under $200K, stick with the basics. You may see really cool floor plans from ADU friendly cities like Portland, Oregon. But keep in mind, construction costs in Portland are very different from the Bay Area. Vaulted Ceilings Higher ceilings are very nice and make the ADU feel bigger but add considerable cost. One way to get the nice open feeling without the high cost is to utlize scissor trusses, which are no more expensive than regular trusses. Flat Roofs Flat roofs are popular and give a nice contemporary modern look. They are more expensive and you may have problems down the road. They tend to have more leaking problems than a pitched roof. Again, if you are on a fixed budget of less than $200K, these types of decisions can put you over the top. So make sure you know how much you are adding to the project cost with these types of design decisions. |
The 2019 Guide to Financing & Building an ADU - Full eBook
$27.00
How to finance, plan, and determine if your Accessory Dwelling Unit / Granny Flat is a good investment. This guide will share tips on how to analyze your project as an investment and give you tools you need to run the numbers like a professional developer. You will gain valuable knowledge on the feasibility of your project and what hidden costs to look for when determining your budget. |
The 2019 Guide to Building an ADU in California
(Including Financing Options)
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For homeowners who want to make the smartest investment when building a backyard cottage, granny flat, accessory dwelling unit, or garage apartment.
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Chapter 01What is an ADU? |
Chapter 02Are Accessory Dwelling Units a Good Investment? |
Chapter 03How to Build a Mother-In-Law House |
Chapter 04Why Build an ADU? |
Chapter 05Top 3 Ways to Finance Your ADU Renovation Loan, FHA 203K, & HELOC |
Chapter 06Do Cheap Pre Fab Homes Really Pencil Out? |
Chapter 07Can ADU Housing Solve the Current Crisis in California? |
Chapter 08Mother-In-Law Apartment Floorplans, & Design |
Chapter 09How to Choose a Small Home Builder |
Chapter 10Cost to Build a Cottage in the Backyard |
Chapter 11East Bay & Contra Costa County ADU Requirements |
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