Garages and ADUs
Whether it’s attached or detached, a garage typically serves multiple purposes for homeowners. Traditionally it is for parking your cars, but often it functions as a workshop, overflow storage, a place to install a home gym, or a place to stow lawn and garden equipment-just to name a few.
In the past couple of years, garages now have yet another purpose for many people: living space in the form of an ADU or Accessory Dwelling Unit.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Explained
What are ADUs? They are small, independent dwelling units built on the same lot as your main house. They’re often called granny flats, in-law suites, or accessory apartments.
Types of Accessory Dwelling Units
An accessory dwelling unit can also be a home office so you can still “go to work” in the mornings, meet clients, and establish a separate space rather than carve an office out of a bedroom inside your house.
Accessory dwelling units are perfect for anyone creative. Picture a light-filled artist studio, colorful craft room, or a book-lined writer’s retreat.
When detached from the main house, you can design the space to open up to the backyard and extend your indoor/outdoor living space. Throw amazing parties, entertain friends and family all from your accessory dwelling unit!
Garage and ADU Options
What if you don’t want to lose your parking/workshop/storage options of a traditional garage? You can build a two-story garage so you get the benefits of a garage on the first floor and living/working space on the second floor.
This is ideal for family and friends who visit. ADUs can also function as on-site living space for a caregiver or nanny and can even be an additional source of rental income. These living spaces are often small, but are perfect for students, young professionals just getting started, or even empty nesters who want to downsize but stay in a certain area or neighborhood.
Many localities are embracing the concept of ADUs to help with the housing crisis, especially since these smaller spaces are often more affordable to rent. The City of Richmond recently decided to allow one ADU by right to homeowners, which means that a special use permit is no longer required.
Adding a garage and/or an ADU also helps boost your home’s value as these are coveted by buyers should you decide to move in the future.
Interested in seeing how a garage or ADU build could work for your home?