San Jose is trying to become California's friendliest ADU City, and with 120,000 single-family homes having the potential to build an ADU there's a reason why Mayor Liccardo sees "backyard" homes as part of the solution to the city's housing shortage.
But as a homeowner where do you begin?
The city has put out a bulletin titled, "Your Pathway to a Completed ADU" which outlines 9 steps to getting your ADU built and signed off as a legal unit. Ah, but if it were only that simple.
So where do you really begin?
Let's start off by asking why you want to build an ADU. For example, you may want to build housing for your parents, children, in-laws, or as investment income, either as a full-time rental or as an Airbnb (note per new state laws, the term for an ADU rental is a minimum of 30 days, including for Airbnb rentals).
Whatever the reasons be aware that the cost to build an ADU in San Jose typically runs $350 per sq. ft. and can be much more depending on your given situation and who you use as your architect, contractor and overall ADU consultant.
For example, my neighbor took a look at converting their carriage house, which is really an 800 sq. ft. garage built around 1905, into an ADU. Part of their garage hangs over a downslope in their backyard so it wasn't going to be a simple conversion, requiring additional structural engineering and design that went beyond the norm. The quote they received from the only contractor that would bid the job was $600,000!
So, first steps . . . justify the reasons for building an ADU and determine your comfort level when it comes to cost?
For me, it's $200,000. Above that and I just don't see how the payback justifies the means. Granted this ADU is for my daughter to live in during her college years and beyond if necessary, but somewhere along the line she's going to move to a place more than 50 ft from her parent's bedroom, at least that's what we hope.
And I'm hoping I can create as much sweat equity as I can since I've been a DIYer for the last 30 years fixing up my 110-year-old home. I know I can do a lot it's just a matter of deciding what I can do, what I can't do and what I shouldn't do.
How much I can save in sweat is anyone's guess be I'm itching to find out.
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