April 2021

A junior accessory dwelling unit – often called a JADU – might be a great option for certain residential property owners in Los Angeles. But what is it, and what makes it a better option? The following article discusses the relevant issues surrounding junior ADUs in Los Angeles. EcoSmart Builders offers end-to-end construction and project management services to Los Angeles County homeowners seeking additional residential space for their properties. Did you know that you can build an accessory dwelling unit on your residential property, as well as a junior accessory dwelling unit? A California law that went into effect in January of 2020 states that homeowners have the option of building a junior accessory dwelling unit on their properties in addition to a standard ADU. This means you can effectively transform your single-family property into a triplex! A junior ADU is an attached or garage conversion accessory dwelling unit that can serve as a fully functional residence on an existing residential property. A junior ADU cannot exceed 500 square feet. Additionally, California law states that the owner must reside on the property, either in the main residence or in the junior ADU. Many property owners are attracted to the prospect of a junior ADU because it is a cost-effective addition that can be completed in a relatively short time – often only between three and six months. If you plan to continue to live in your main residence, a junior ADU could be a good fit. Junior ADU in Los Angeles Guidelines If you are considering adding a junior ADU to your residential property, here are a few of the guidelines: A junior ADU has to provide an entryway entirely separate from the main residence. If you are converting an unused bedroom into a junior ADU, you will have to install a side door to your home. A junior ADU must function as an independent living space, but it can share a bathroom with the primary residence. A junior ADU has to be equipped with an efficiency kitchen area. This must include a 16″x16″ (max) kitchen sink with a 1.5″ diameter drain line. Counter space and cabinetry must be included and of a size that is proportional to the size of the unit. The kitchen appliances (range, stove, etc.) cannot be gas-powered, and no appliances can require electrical power in excess of 120 volts. Additional parking space is only required if the junior ADU is an attached garage conversion. Supplementary parking can be created using the driveway space if it can accommodate two vehicles. EcoSmart Builders specializes in garage conversion ADUs in Los Angeles, providing homeowners with consultation, project management, design, and construction services. For more information about garage conversion, please visit our information page.

Building an accessory dwelling unit in Los Angeles could yield significant benefits if you’re a homeowner seeking additional revenue. Here are a few things you should know about the process. EcoSmart Builders helps Los Angeles area property owners construct beautiful, sustainable dwellings on their properties, giving them the support they need to navigate the entire process, from planning and permitting to construction. If you’re considering building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), you’re probably full of questions about the process. Here are answers to a few of the most common. Q: Which properties can have an accessory dwelling unit added to them? A: Accessory dwelling units in Los Angeles can be constructed on any property that has been zoned as a residence. This can mean a single-family home or a multifamily complex. However, a single-family residential property is limited to one standard ADU and one junior ADU (JADU). Q: Can an accessory dwelling unit be built anywhere on a property? A: A standard ADU can be built in a backyard space either independently of the primary dwelling (detached), as a garage conversion, or as an attached unit. The ADU has to be within the side and rear property lines at a distance of no less than four feet if the structure is not a garage conversion. Q: How big can my ADU be? A: Standard ADUs can be up to 1,200 square feet. JADUs can be no larger than 500 square feet. Q: Can an accessory dwelling unit be sold independently of the primary residence? A: You cannot sell a detached accessory dwelling unit by itself in California. Q: If I build an accessory dwelling unit, do I have to reside on the property? A: If you build a standard ADU, you can rent both the primary residence and the ADU. However, if you build a JADU, you have to abide by the occupancy residency requirement which states that the owner must live on the property. Q: Can a standard ADU and a junior ADU be built on the same residential property? A: Yes, it is possible to build an ADU and a JADU on a single-family residential property, but California law stipulates that the property owner must reside on a residential property with a JADU. Q: Do I have to add additional parking space for an ADU? A: If your property is located a walking distance of a one-half mile from public transportation, you do not have to add parking spaces. EcoSmart Builders provides residential property owners the resources and expertise they need to build exceptional accessory dwelling units in the greater Los Angeles area. To learn more about our services, please visit our information page for additional details.

Accessory dwelling units not only provide additional living space for property owners, but they also offer a unique opportunity to enhance the value of your home by a significant margin. Moreover, they can deliver a steady revenue stream if you elect to rent to tenants. A garage conversion could be an especially beneficial strategy for a variety of reasons – here are just a few. If you own a residential property with a garage that is used for little more than storing old workout equipment and rusted lawn care supplies, maybe the space could be better used for another purpose. Garage conversions – the process of transforming your garage into a space designed for another specific use – could be a great solution. While you could elect to construct an addition to your primary residence – either a detached ADU or an attached unit that abuts the main home – you would lose a fair amount of backyard square footage. If you like to spend time outdoors during the warmer months or if you don’t have a particularly large backyard to begin with, this could be a drawback. Converting a garage allows you to effectively exploit a space you might not necessarily need. If your garage has a driveway space that can accommodate one or two vehicles, you might not need an enclosed garage to store your vehicle. Garage conversions are also somewhat easier in that there is already a structure – you won’t have to construct a unit from the ground up (depending upon the soundness of the garage, of course). Building an entire unit is significantly more expensive and time-consuming than converting an existing one. If you are still on the fence about the possibilities of a garage conversion, here are a few more factors: Garage conversions can add approximately 20% percent to the value of your property. A garage conversion is one of the least costly and convenient types of home renovation you can initiate. Considering the overall investment of time and capital, this has the potential to yield exceptional returns – especially if you elect to rent the space. Garage conversions offer flexible and private living space. Attached ADUs that use a spare bedroom or living area require a sacrifice of space in the main residence. A garage conversion, however, provides additional space without requiring the residents of the primary dwelling to make any adjustments. Moreover, it’s the most private option, particularly if the garage is detached. Garage conversions can be used for a variety of purposes. While most people choose to convert their garages to ADUs, there are other uses that could be equally valuable depending upon your personal preferences. You don’t necessarily have to use the unit as a living space – your lifestyle and habits can dictate the ultimate purpose of the conversion. You can use it as a gym, an entertainment center/recreation room, home office, children’s playroom, artist’s studio, guest house… the list is endless! EcoSmart Builders gives homeowners throughout Los Angeles County the resources and expertise they need to build beautiful, high-functioning accessory dwelling units from the planning and permitting stage all the way through to final construction. To learn more about our services, please visit our information page.

If you want to start a garage conversion project in Los Angeles, here are a few things to consider when looking for a contractor. Starting a garage conversion project is always going to be more complicated than you initially believe. No matter how efficient or talented a do-it-yourselfer you are, if you want to execute a garage conversion, you’re going to need professional help. Here are a few things you should consider when hiring a contractor for a garage conversion. Always contact the accessory dwelling unit contractors by telephone. You are going to want to contact multiple contractors for your garage conversion project. However, while it might be simpler to send an email to numerous prospects, it’s a better idea to contact a potential contractor by phone. If you call a contractor and leave a message only to hear nothing back, that’s a significant red flag. You want someone who is going to respond to you promptly during your project. Always look up your contractor’s license. In the state of California, you can look up a building contractor’s licenses online fairly easily. This will tell you if a contractor has a valid operating license, and also if there are any transgressions attached to that license. Check to see if the contractor has made an insurance claim recently. There’s nothing inherently wrong with filing insurance claims, but it is important to know what those claims were for. Contact a minimum of three former clients. You will also want to see photographs of the interior and exterior work. If at all possible, speak to the owner of the construction company. The “point person” you were likely dealing with was a sales representative. Make sure you speak to the owner before agreeing to use their services. Check online reviews. Online reviews are tricky — it’s difficult to know whether they are genuine, fueled by the animosity of a competitor or one disgruntled former client, or being manipulated by the business itself. However, if the company’s online reviews are stellar, it is an indication that, at the very least, the business knows how to manage its online reputation and performs some measure of due diligence. Also, if the company responds to issues and concerns, it demonstrates attentiveness to client needs. Make your expectations clear. Write down the behaviors you consider important or non-negotiable in your contractor and show the list to your project manager. If there is any disagreement, have the representative give you a detailed explanation. Create a code of conduct that both parties can agree to. Be on the lookout for constant upgrade suggestions and vagaries. Are there a lot of “TBD” notations in the contractor’s estimate? Do you get the sense that your representative is trying an aggressive upsell? These can be signs of an untrustworthy contractor. EcoSmart Builders provides end-to-end project management services to Los Angeles property owners seeking to undertake garage conversion projects. For more details about accessory dwelling unit construction, including detached ADU, attached ADU, Junior ADU, or garage conversion, please visit our information page.

The population in Southern California is exploding, leading to a major demand for rental housing. This phenomenon is causing many homeowners to opt for creative solutions for simultaneously generating additional long-term revenue and increasing the value of their property. Garage conversion to an apartment is the natural strategy for property owners who might not have the additional lot space on their properties for an accessory dwelling unit, but do have garage space that they do not use. Here are a few things to consider if you think garage conversion to apartment space is the right strategy for your goals and lifestyle. EcoSmart Builders specializes in project managing the construction of unique accessory dwelling units in Los Angeles County. Garage conversion to an apartment space is an excellent strategy for optimizing the living space of a residential property. Whether you decide to rent the space or if you simply want more room for an expanding family, a garage conversion to an apartment is a significantly lower cost option than purchasing a new home outright. Additionally, it can raise the property value of your home, and, if you should decide to rent the space to a tenant, it will provide you with a steady income. Here are a few factors to deliberate upon if you want to pursue a garage conversion to an apartment. Make sure you outline how you want the space to be used. Garage conversion into an apartment is more than just adding the features necessary to create a basic living space. The style of the space is important, as well as the design. While you might not want to rent the space to a tenant immediately, you might want to in the future, so the design must be aesthetically pleasing and provide a comfortable and cheerful environment. The focus of the conversion must be factored in as well. Will it be designed with the bedroom being the main focus? Will it have a large kitchen space? Will there be parties and entertaining? Put some effort into the floor plan. Have a professional consultation. Professional input on a project as large as a garage conversion into an apartment is invaluable. Although you might have had experience renovating a bathroom or building an outdoor deck, please be aware that converting one space into another is a highly complex and involved undertaking. A professional team will have the experience and the knowledge necessary to foresee all potential challenges and provide an expert assessment. It’s also always helpful to have a fresh pair of eyes look at a project. This could help save you significant time, frustration, and money. Timing is everything. don’t be impulsive with a major construction project. You want to make sure that you have all of your ducks in a row before you proceed, and this includes beginning construction during the most favorable season. Delaying the initiation of the project until you’re sure that the process will be as smooth as possible is a smarter strategy than beginning too early and then having it dragged on for weeks or even months beyond what you’d expected. While you might reach the finish line at the same time you would have if you’d had postponed the project, you will have spent considerably more money. If you think that a garage conversion to an apartment project could be right for your personal and financial goals, the team at EcoSmart Builders will be more than happy to provide you with a consultation. For more details about our services, please visit our information page.

Whether or not a garage conversion would be a good investment for your property should be the primary consideration when determining if and when to proceed with the project. If you are considering a garage conversion in Los Angeles, here are a few things you should know. EcoSmart builders is dedicated to providing exceptional consultation, design, and construction services to clients throughout Los Angeles County seeking to build accessory dwelling units. It’s only natural to wonder if the cost, stress, time, and hassle of building an accessory dwelling unit, or undergoing a garage conversion project, will be worth the investment. Determining the soundness of the strategy can be a challenge in many cases, because you might not know if the undertaking was successful until you opt to put your home on the market. Here are a few basic, yet important questions you should consider prior to undertaking a garage conversion in Los Angeles. Have you undergone the correct legal permitting and planning processes? We cannot stress the importance of this step. If you ultimately decide to sell your property, or apply for a mortgage, failing to have the proper documentation, permitting, etc. will create major problems. There’s also the matter of understanding the Municipal codes — failing to adhere to them will lead to punishing fines and possibly having to remove the addition. In order to better understand the zoning ordinances and all of the legal matters you will encounter during the project, you must have the proper professional support guiding you through the process. This is not something you should attempt to undertake alone, even if you are extremely skilled in construction. If you decide to rent the space, what should you charge? It can be extremely challenging to determine the optimal rental price for the living space if you choose to rent it. This might require a great deal of research, bearing in mind that prices do tend to fluctuate quite a bit in Southern California. Return on investment must be a major consideration. You might want to consult with an assortment of real estate agents that specialize in investment properties, as well as different property managers and owners. And don’t forget to scan different online listings to discover what apartments in Los Angeles County are going for. How are you financing your garage conversion? If you have the money on hand to pay for the construction outright, then you’re one of the lucky few. If not, refinancing might be the best option if you have equity in your home. There’s also the option of a renovation loan, depending upon your employment situation and the steadiness of your income. However, you must take the lender fees into consideration; discuss pricing structures and fees with your lender. EcoSmart Builders is proud to help a diverse assortment of clients throughout Southern California build gorgeous, environmentally friendly accessory dwelling units on their properties. Whether you opt for a garage conversion in Los Angeles, a detached accessory dwelling unit, attached accessory dwelling unit, or junior accessory dwelling unit, our team will be more than happy to partner with you throughout the project. For more details about our services, please visit our information page.

What could be more exciting than creating something new, beautiful, and fresh out of something old and neglected? Garage conversions can significantly alter the appearance and functionality of your home property. Performed properly, garage conversions can transform your home from a dull and impersonal space to a more interesting and vibrant dwelling. The following article discusses garage conversion ideas that can help turn your property into a modern and even luxurious home addition. EcoSmart Builders helps clients achieve truly stunning transformational outcomes through garage conversions and accessory dwelling unit construction for homeowners in Los Angeles County. Adding an accessory dwelling unit to your property, or converting your garage space into a new apartment, is a not-insignificant investment. It is extremely important that you clarify your concept early in order to achieve the best outcomes. Of course, having a professional consultation as early as possible will mitigate most, if not all, challenges during the project, but it is nonetheless important to understand what options are available to you. Here are a few garage conversion ideas to consider if you’re thinking about adding an accessory dwelling unit to your property. Adopt an open floor plan. Garages are typically constructed as wide open, rectangular spaces to accommodate multiple automobiles, and whatever storage items need to be kept either close to the automobiles or close to the backyard. An open floor plan makes sense, and it also has numerous advantages. It embraces and optimizes the natural largeness of the space. It allows for open and more fluid movement throughout the living area, and it makes entertaining more comfortable. It offers furniture placement flexibility, and achieves a lighter, brighter, more airy look. Incorporate lots of natural light. Having a lot of natural light in a living space makes the area seem more welcoming and more cheerful. It can also lower energy costs. Natural light can significantly influence the internal temperature of the space, reducing the need for traditional heating in many cases. Smart features. The integration of smart appliances and other smart home features is not only becoming more popular, but it is also becoming essential. Many of these appliances and features can be managed through smartphone applications, which provide alerts whenever there’s a need for maintenance or other attention. These are also programmable, as with thermostats and lights. These features can help reduce energy costs, because they operate using sensors, thereby guaranteeing they will not be overused. Luxury bedroom suites. If you’re implementing a garage conversion for your own family’s use rather than as a potential rental space, transforming the space into a master bedroom suite with basic living features supporting the bedroom aspect could be an interesting choice. Having luxury bedroom amenities is becoming a major trend in home renovations and accessory dwelling units. Such suites offer master bedroom functionality, featuring large, custom-built closets, spa-like bathrooms, and integrated office area space, but with small kitchen areas. EcoSmart Builders partners with clients throughout Southern California to create gorgeous, eco-friendly accessory dwelling units. For more information about our services, please visit our information page.

Garage conversions are fabulous solutions for providing additional living or recreational space, as well as enhancing the value of your property. However, they can present difficulties that other home remodeling projects rarely encounter. If you are considering garage conversion, here are a few considerations you should weigh before starting the process. EcoSmart Builders specializes in designing and constructing eco-friendly accessory dwelling units in Los Angeles County. If you want to add value to your residential property, executing a garage conversion is probably the best and most effective strategy. In order for your garage conversion project to be successful, however, the outcome must fit the overall design scheme of your main residential building. The converted garage has to take on the natural aesthetic of you are main home. In order to achieve this, you must take several factors into account before initiating your project. Exterior considerations. If your garage conversion looks brand new in comparison to the rest of the property, it’s almost like having your top teeth whitened and leaving the bottoms discolored. It just looks awkward, to put it mildly. The design of the garage conversion should also be in harmony with the design of the rest of the property. If the home exterior is Tudor brickwork, having a garage addition with a shingle exterior would look awkward, to say the least. Access considerations. Of course, garages are constructed for the purpose of housing automobiles, and in some cases for providing an entryway into the home. This being the case, door placement should be one of the primary considerations of your design plan. Although you might be tempted to stay with the current entry, it might not be the best strategy for the final result. The functionality of the unit should be your top priority, and you must therefore work with your design team to determine what the most accessible and straightforward solution will be. Floor level considerations. If your garage has a floor level that differs from that of the main property, it must be addressed during the design process. having a floor level that dips below the floor level of the rest of the property will heavily influence your design options. Proportional considerations. One of the most significant considerations for the garage conversion design project is the room proportions. Garage floor plans are typically fairly simple, but they are also rectangular in most cases, so the placement of the different elements must be carefully considered to maximize space, flow, and convenience for the tenant. Usage considerations. Is your new unit going to be an apartment? Is it going to be a home office? Is it going to be a home gym? While all accessory dwelling units must be able to function as separate and complete living spaces, if your goal is to design a unit for a specific purpose, in addition to functioning as a living space, that could significantly influence the characteristics of that space. Storage considerations. It is very likely that you currently use your garage to store not only your automobiles, but also other items that you either wouldn’t store in your main residence or do not have room for in your main residence. Consider where those items are going to be stored in the future, or if you are going to continue to store them in the converted space. Additionally, the way you structure your garage conversion will dictate the amount of storage space your tenant will enjoy. You might come away with one of the most beautifully designed garage conversions from an aesthetic standpoint, but if you don’t have an appropriate amount of storage space for your new resident, the effect will be ruined due to clutter. Natural light considerations. This might be among the most challenging factors, since garages don’t typically have much light. Take the existing layout of your property into consideration when deciding where to place windows. Clearly, there will be privacy concerns too, so a giant window facing the street might not be ideal. If your property’s backyard has a garden area, you might consider putting the largest windows in the back facing that area, which will also help give the appearance of more space while providing a beautiful view. EcoSmart Builders offers full project management services to clients seeking garage conversions, attached accessory dwelling unit construction, detached accessory dwelling unit construction, and junior accessory dwelling unit construction. To learn more about our services, please visit our information page.

Undertaking a garage conversion to apartment space could yield numerous benefits under the right circumstances. If you’re thinking about converting your garage space into an apartment unit, here are a few factors that could influence your final decision. It is well-known that California has an affordable housing shortage, making it difficult for many families to maintain a decent quality of life due to sky-high rents. In response to this shortfall, numerous regulations and permitting requirements have eased, making the construction of accessory dwelling units on single-family and multi-family residential properties easier. One of the most popular strategies is the garage conversion to apartment option, which transforms an existing garage space into a fully livable, independent dwelling. While the benefits of constructing an ADU are undeniable, there are multiple matters to consider before undertaking a garage conversion to apartment project. Here are a few major factors. Financial benefits vs. cost. If you live in a region within Los Angeles County where there is a major demand for affordable housing, an ADU could generate considerable revenue — revenue that could offset the cost of construction in a fairly short period of time (most cases under 5 years). With new residents desiring to move to Los Angeles and its surrounding cities, you could discover that an ADU creates an excellent opportunity to supplement your income. For homeowners who are considering investing in real estate, this offers a significantly lower-cost option than purchasing additional real estate for the purpose of converting into single-family or multi-family rental housing. A garage conversion to an apartment would cost roughly one-tenth of an outright real estate purchase. Flexibility of ADU use. While many people opt for garage conversion into an apartment for rent, you can still benefit financially by converting your garage into an ADU for your own use. If you have family members who visit frequently, having a living space that is not only comfortable but completely private could be a significant benefit. However, an ADU can be used for a variety of purposes, including: A home office. With more and more businesses allowing employees to work remotely, having a spacious office at home allows you to conduct your work obligations without the distractions of children and general family life. A fitness center. This gives you not only space to have your personal gym equipment and accessories, but the resources you need to shower, enjoy a sauna, and keep snacks and water without either costly gym memberships or disturbing the other residents of the primary dwelling. An entertainment center. This can offer a variety of uses. Whether you elect to use it as a space for watching movies and entertaining guests at parties, or a den where you unwind after a long day, or perhaps as a playhouse for your children and their friends, this option can offer family enjoyment while increasing your property’s value. EcoSmart Builders helps homeowners in Los Angeles County convert their existing garage spaces into beautiful apartment units for either rental housing or private enjoyment. To learn more about our services, please visit our information page.

Accessory dwelling units in Los Angeles are becoming incredibly popular, and it’s easy to see why. Here are a few of the many benefits of constructing an accessory dwelling unit in Los Angeles. It’s undeniable that building an accessory dwelling unit in Los Angeles is an excellent investment. With the need for affordable housing in Southern California reaching epic proportions, rental units throughout Los Angeles County are at a premium, providing consistent income opportunities to property owners in single-family and multi-family properties. If you’re considering building an accessory dwelling unit in Los Angeles, here are a few additional benefits that might help you determine whether building an ADU is the right strategy for your lifestyle and financial goals. ADUs offer multi-generational housing. If you have an extended family, there might come a time when an aging parent or grandparent needs to move closer to you for caregiving or financial reasons. You might also want to have a residential unit to accommodate children who need affordable and convenient housing. ADUs are excellent options, because they allow family members to remain close even while living in private units. ADUs raise property value. There’s no question that having a private living space on a residential property offers numerous opportunities for revenue, whether as a long-term rental or as a vacation rental. However, even property owners who do not elect to use the ADU space as a rental unit can still enjoy financial benefits, as the addition of a habitable space on a residential property can increase the property value significantly, should they ever decide to sell. ADUs bring economic benefits and affordable housing to your community. If you do decide to construct an ADU for the purpose of renting it, you are providing an invaluable resource to your neighborhood and community-at-large. In California, and in Los Angeles County in particular, housing costs have become oppressive, making finding suitable living spaces nearly impossible for a huge segment of the population. If you are considering constructing an accessory dwelling unit in Los Angeles, you might qualify for incentive programs from the city that make it easier to initiate construction if you assure that you will rent the unit to a low-income household for a certain length of time. ADUs are environmentally friendly. Smaller, more efficient residential dwellings constructed with sustainable and eco-friendly materials offer considerably more environmental benefits than building large structures from the ground up. The average ADU is typically smaller than 1,200 square feet, with junior accessory dwelling units being 500 square feet or less, and typically constructed as either an attached unit or as a garage conversion. These smaller dwellings require fewer materials and far less overall disturbance than the construction of apartment buildings, leaving a comparatively negligible carbon footprint. EcoSmart Builders is dedicated to providing environmentally friendly, sustainable accessory dwelling units in Los Angeles County. Please visit our information page to learn more about our services.