The need for more space at home, and for more homes for people to live in, have meant that Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs have grown in popularity, especially in cities throughout the U.S. where real estate is expensive.
What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit?
ADUs are units built on a lot that already has a home, to house extra people, and while they are smaller than the existing home, they contain everything needed to live a functional, comfortable life on a smaller scale.
Whether connected to the main home, or completely unattached, ADUs can be created from an existing garage, for example, or constructed from scratch. Some homeowners have them built to accommodate family members, such as senior relatives or teenage kids, while others choose to rent them out to paying tenants.
Whatever your reason for wanting to have an ADU built, there are plenty of advantages to doing so, and here are just a few of them:
Enables you to earn a passive income
With a separate entranceway and all the necessary amenities for a person to function independently, ADUs are easily rentable, giving you an extra income that could soon give you a healthy return on your investment. Suitable for short or long term rentals, ADUs can be adapted to whatever rental purposes the homeowners opts for.
Increases the value of your home
ADUs are well known for helping to boost the value of a property, provided the project has been professionally carried out and completed to a high standard. Thanks to the many opportunities they provide homeowners with, from extra income to extra space, they are a popular prospect for homebuyers and often help the property sell at a significantly higher price.
Gives you space for guests
If you love hosting and don’t want to rent your ADU to a tenant, you can use it to give guests and family members a comfortable space to stay in when they come to visit you. No more putting people up in a hotel or kicking kids out of their rooms to make space for visitors, you can give guests the chance to stay over without being an inconvenience to anyone.
Enables you to host additional family members
Often referred to as mother-in-law suites or granny suites, if you’ve got senior (or otherwise) relatives who don’t want to live entirely alone, or can’t live independently, an ADU is a fantastic way of keeping them close, while still separate – should that be necessary! Or if you have childcare issues and your mother wants to help you out, you can give her the opportunity to be there and help care for the children when you’re unable to. It’s also a great way for seniors (or their family members) to save on the costs of assisted living, which can quickly mount up.
Provides you with a home office
COVID-19 showed us all what it can be like to work from home, and let’s face it, many of us enjoyed it. Having an ADU made into office space allows you to comfortably work from home, while not having all the distractions of being in the main home, such as cleaning, kids and pets.
Is it time for you to expand your working space or make some extra income from an ADU? If yes, then don’t waste any more time thinking about it, reach out to a local general contractor today, and start making plans for your functional, smart and moneymaking accessory dwelling unit.