OUR SERVICES

ADU ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT

Why should I build an ADU?

1.

Earn extra rental income to help pay your mortgage, save for retirement, or build a financial safety net.

2.

Increase your property value.

3.

Downsize without moving away from your community.

4.

Provide a nearby, yet private, home for family, friends, or caretakers.

GUIDING YOU FROM

Eligibility Through Completion

Designing and building an Accessory Dwelling Unit is a long, complex process. From initial contact to final inspection, most of our ADU projects are completed in under one year. Here’s the ADU Design/Build process we follow:

  • Find out If you are eligible

    The first step is to find out if your property qualifies for an ADU. Contact your city or county planning department to find out if you can add an ADU to your property, the maximum square footage allowed, and the property setbacks in place that will influence where you can place an ADU.

  • Initial Consultation

    The next step is a free initial consultation from NRI Group. During this step, our team will review a satellite view of your address, conduct a rough feasibility analysis, and provide you a ballpark quote.


  • Design

    To continue planning your ADU, we will create a design floorplan of your ADU.  This involves an on-site property visit to take detailed measurements. Once we have those, our designer will create a floorplan, with a round of revisions. If you like the model, we will provide a detailed quote for your project.

  • Drafting & Engineering

    The next step is to transform that floorplan into the drafts and engineer-approved drawings we will need for the permitting process. This step includes engineering analysis & stamp, Title 24 energy analysis & certification, and solar design & plans. At the end of this step, you will have a finalized contract with final pricing.

  • Permitting

    After the drafts have been completed and the final contract signed, our team will apply for building permits with your local planning office. Each project varies with the amount of time it takes to receive permits, but you can generally plan for 10-16 weeks before we receive approval.

  • Construction

    Once we get the permits in hand, we can schedule your installation. Your ADU will arrive in prefabricated sections, which we will assemble and finish. Backyard Unlimited schedules and manages all subcontractors, as well as scheduling all inspections.

FAQ

  • What's an ADU?

    ADUs are known by many names — including accessory dwelling unit, second unit, in-law unit, granny flat, casita, and backyard home. But, no matter what you call them, these are homes located on the same piece of property as another home. They provide a complete and permanent home for at least one person.

  • Will an ADU impact my property taxes?

    Yes, your property taxes will slightly increase based on the added value of the ADU. The base value of your property will not be reassessed. As an example, if an ADU will add $100,000 in value to your property, and your property tax rate is 1.1%, then your property tax would increase by $1,100 ($100,000 x 1.1%). That being said, JADUs and Conversion ADUs generally have much less effect (and may have no effect) on property taxes.

  • Will an ADU increase my property value?

    Yes, an ADU will increase the value of your property. The exact amount is difficult to predict, but a very rough estimate is that your property value will increase by 100 times the ADU's monthly rental value. Meaning, if you can rent out your ADU by $1,000/month, your property value will increase by roughly $100,000.

  • Can the ADU be rented?

    Yes, although most local governments prohibit ADUs from being rented out for a period of less than 30 days.