ADU House Plans: Designing a Granny Flat

The number of permits that are granted to build granny flats has risen sharply in the past few years. In San Jose in particular, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is seen as one of the answers to the housing shortage—and the mayor is doing what he can to ensure that these structures get built with ease.

If you’ve been thinking about adding a granny flat to your property, there are some things you need to know when it comes to creating ADU house plans.

Read on to discover what these are.

Why Are ADUs Growing in Popularity?

Traditionally, ADUs were built with older individuals in mind. This meant that if you had aging parents that you needed to take care of, they would still be close, but everyone would still have their own space.

One of the great appeals of a granny flat is that you and your parents still have privacy. But if an emergency arises, all you have to do to help is step out of your back door.

During the current pandemic, having an ADU on your property can be incredibly beneficial. You have the ability to keep your family close. Should someone get ill, you are right there to take care of them. But at the same time, you can also keep them quarantined from others so that others don’t get ill.

In addition, having a granny flat on your property keeps your elderly parents out of care facilities and nursing homes, where COVID-19 has had a huge impact on residents.

By constructing an extra home on your property, you can reduce your parents’ chance of contracting this dangerous and deadly virus, while also ensuring they have the supplies they need to live a healthy, happy life.

Some of the other reasons that people are adding ADUs to their property include the following:

People Are Staying in Their Homes Longer

Just because your parents are getting older, this doesn’t mean that they are ready to go to a nursing home or care facility.

In fact, advances in medical science have allowed people to live longer, healthier lives and stay in their homes.

Of course, they may still need some assistance. For many, instead of having in-home care providers, they opt instead to take care of their own. That’s why they create a home with aging in mind.

It Reduces Cost

It’s no secret that placing loved ones in a nursing home can be incredibly expensive. See below for Personalloans.org’s national median facility costs. After a few years of facility costs, you might as well invest in an ADU.

Personalloans.org gives recommendations on how to pay alternative approaches to aging, such as aging in place and building an ADU.

If your parents don’t have the means or ability to afford a care facility, then having them close benefits everyone.

When it comes to creating the plans for an ADU house, you and your loved ones get to decide what it needs to be functional.

If you are building it for your aging parents, having a space that is smaller and easier to take care of is in their best interest. It’s also a good idea to look into San Jose solar requirements and determine if this feature is worth adding.

ADUs Aren’t Just for Aging Individuals

Granny flats started as a way to keep aging parents close and ensure they are being taken care of, but they have extended beyond that.

One of the reasons ADUs have been growing in popularity is because they can also be used for other members of your family.

An ADU can be beneficial for college students who have irregular schedules or newlyweds who need a little more time to get on their feet.

No matter who needs to live in the granny flat, having it on your property ensures that you are prioritizing home and family above all else.

What You Should Know When Developing ADU House Plans

When it comes to developing house plans for the perfect granny flat, there are certain things you need to consider.

The first is to ensure that you have the proper permits to comply with local rules and regulations.

You also need the right design so that it fits onto your property.

Working with a professional ADU builder can help with these endeavors. Some of the other things you’ll need to consider include the following:

Find a Floor Plan that Fits Your Loved One’s Style

You may be adding this structure to your property, but it’s for the benefit of another family member. Thus, you need to keep in mind that your style and your loved one’s style may not be the same.

If you plan on having elderly parents living in the flat, it’s a good idea to make it easy for them to move around. This might include looking into a ranch-style home without any stairs.

You may also need to make sure doors are wider in case they need to navigate walkers or wheelchairs throughout the dwelling.

Adding handrails and safety features to the bathroom could also be helpful in preventing falls and injuries.

When it comes to designing the ADU, consider involving your loved ones in the process so that they can get the features they want and need to make life easier and more comfortable.

Find a Floor Plan that Fits Into Your Budget

The last thing you want to do when developing the ADU floor plan is overspend on the wrong things. This can lead to a lot of stress. Thus, having a budget and sticking to it is in your best interest. However, make sure you chat with professionals to get your budget in a healthy place. Afterall, not all ADUs are created equal.

That may mean that some of the features and upgrades your loved one wants may not be included. However, you should be able to find a way to compromise so that everyone is happy with the final design of the granny flat.

Choose Features That Will Stand the Test of Time

It can be tempting to add the most modern and popular features to your granny flat, but before doing so, you need to ask yourself if they will stand the test of time.

Styles change, and what is popular now may not be trending in a few years. If that’s the case, then your ADU will seem out of date.

Instead, choose features that will always be in style. This ensures that the ADU looks good now and into the future.

Work With the Best

When it comes to creating ADU house plans, working with a professional is beneficial. Not only will they ensure that you are staying in compliance with local rules and regulations, but they can also show you features that fit into your budget.

At Acton ADU, we have the skills and experience to build the granny flat of you and your family’s dreams. Contact us today to see what we have to offer.