There was a time when many American families had at least one grandparent living in their homes. That is less common today, but multigenerational living is making a comeback. Some of it is cultural, especially in Rancho Santa Margarita, where many couples have parents visit for months at a time or move in permanently to help care for grandchildren. Some of it is economic, thanks to hangovers from the 2008 recession and the area’s high housing costs.
One way that some single family residence homeowners in Rancho Santa Margarita are coping with the space and cost crunch is by building “granny flats” on their properties. California made these buildings — legally known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs — easier to build and permit. Citing their many benefits, the state’s Housing and Community Development site points to their affordability, income potential, cost effective construction, living space expansion, plus the ability to share living space and house extended families while maintaining privacy.
If one of those benefits speaks to your wants or needs, an ADU might be a plus for your household.
The compact space is expanded with outdoor landscaping
Considering an ADU
“It’s not an inexpensive weekend DIY project,” points out Bill Cavanaugh of USModular,Inc. “There are zoning, utility , accessibility and life safety issues that need to be addressed in the design and construction of a granny flat.”
“Homeowners need to understand the responsibilities and liabilities involved,” adds the Developer and builder of modular accessory dwelling units. Cavanaugh suggests budgeting $100,000 to $200,000 for an ADU as homeowners cost will include local development fees, utility fees and /or upgrades, design fees and construction costs, he notes. Costs and permitting time will vary by project scope and location.. The cost of building an ADU may seem high but the financial return can offset these costs as rents for an ADU can be $1200 to $2000 a month in many California cities including San Clemente.
“Most ADUs are 400 plus square feet and include a main living room with small kitchen, bathroom and bedroom or studio set up,” says Bill Cavanaugh, Design Consultant for USModular,Inc. For units smaller than 500 square feet, Cavanaugh suggests a high-CEILING TO make the space feel larger.
One way to reduce costs (and possibly time, theft and vandalism) is with a factory-built structure, says Cavanaugh. He sees site-built ADUs costing $150,000 to $200,000 for an average 600-square-foot ADU, versus $75,000 to $120,000 for factory built. “More structures are designed and built offsite every year,” he says.
Another factor in determining whether a granny flat makes sense for your property in Rancho Santa Margaritais the land your home sits on. The most conducive, easiest and cost efficient is a level lot with easy access, on a sewer (not septic), and no restrictive homeowner association regulations, Cavanaugh says.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, he says, are “steep banks, narrow lots, flood plains, solid rock or granite and no rear access to the property,” any of which can make the project cost-prohibitive FOR A FACTORY BUILT ADU.
Outfitting your ADU in Rancho Santa Margarita
So you’ve decided to forge ahead. You’ve got your professionals and financing lined up. What do you put in your unit? Ask yourself first who you’re building this space for and what their needs are, Cavanaugh advises. He urges practicality to be cost effective — like water-efficient fixtures to avoid having to upgrade your water meter at a cost of $10,000 or more. That might mean a walk-in shower with bench for grandma, rather than a deep soaking tub for a millennial mom tenant.
It also means maximizing very compact living space. If you’ve visited an Ikea store, you might have seen this done very well, with a compact apartment/ADU designed right onto the selling floor. “Our home is 550 square feet and includes two bedrooms, one bath, full kitchen and living room area,” says Alicia Sayadi, an interior designer for IKEA. It was planned with a couple and one child in mind but could easily accommodate two children with a bunk bed, she adds.
“We created our home to inspire our customers with small-space living solutions to maximize square footage without sacrificing comfort and style.” The kitchen features an open layout with extendable dining table, stackable stools and cabinet accessories. “In small spaces, you want to keep loose items organized and clean; having the right interior storage is key.”
Ikea’s compact bathroom has a rolling cart that can store grooming items but can be rolled out into the hall, where there’s an extra mirror to let two people get ready at the same time. “When planning a functional small space, you want to invest in pieces that are flexible and can serve a dual purpose, such as an ottoman that can be used as a side table, tables that can extend in size and furniture that can be stacked when stored,” Sayadi says. She also advises to think vertically when building storage into a space. Tall wardrobes can quadruple usable space, she says, but it’s important to have the proper containers for your items so that it’s easy to find what you need quickly.
Last words
“Most people are pleasantly surprised about how much furniture can actually fit in this small space and immediately start thinking about how they could transform their garage into a granny flat,” says the Ikea designer. Is there a small space solution waiting in your backyard?
Cavanaugh sees it as a definite possibility: “ADUs are revolutionary in their ability to solve issues critical to housing. The trend will continue to grow as more municipalities — and now the Department of Housing and Urban Development — put an increased focus on legalizing this type of home structure. ”
Resources
USMODULAR: WWW.USMODULARINC.COM
Ikea: www.ikea.com
Standards for accessory dwelling units are detailed in the city’s municipal code. For more information, we suggest contacting city staff.
Development Services Department – City of Rancho Santa Margarita
22112 El Paseo
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
949-635-1816
