Prefab Granny Flats: What to Know Before You Add One

Prefab Granny Flats: What to Know Before You Add One

First things first: what is a granny flat? A granny flat is an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU for short, that is attached or detached from a main home. It’s a self-contained unit that has a sleeping, living, and kitchen space as well as its own bathroom.

Granny flats are a great option for aging parents or relatives to downsize into, stay close to family, age in place, and live out their golden years close to the people and places they love. Prefab ADUs are a great addition to your home, you just need to reimagine your backyard.

A prefab granny flat is an ADU that is prefabricated off-site in a climate controlled environment and then delivered and placed at the final site in your yard. Prefab granny flats have many benefits compared to stick-built granny flats, which we’ll cover here.

Benefits of adding a granny flat to your outdoor space

The benefits of adding a granny flat to your yard are many, not just because it can provide a smaller and more accessible space for aging parents to live.

Granny flats can also provide passive income if you choose to rent out the space to others, either as a short-term or long-term rental. Or you can use the extra space as flexible living space, like as a home office, a space for kids to do school work, a backyard gym, or for more space to host large family gatherings.

A prefab granny flat gives you more livable space without uprooting your family and moving somewhere else, plus it’s better for the community. By adding more potential living space for people to rent, you can be part of the solution to the housing crisis in California.

Opting for a prefab granny flat verse a stick-built granny flat can cut down on the project timeline, the cost, and many unforeseen issues that can arise with traditional built units. Plus, they can be more sustainable to build since they use predetermined designs and have less waste.

What should I look for in a prefab granny flat?

The most important thing to look for in a prefab granny flat is how it will accommodate what you want to use it for. There are many options when it comes to granny flats — from studios to two bedroom units, you can get exactly the amount of space you need.

You should also consider how involved in the process you’d like to be. A prefab granny flat is a great option for people that don’t want to make a lot of design and architectural decisions, but still want something beautiful and functional.

Some prefab granny flat companies will simply provide the unit but not help you with any of the permitting or scheduling contractors for site work, craning and hookups.

Unless you know a lot about construction, this might not be the best option. Instead, look for a company like Abodu that gives you a dedicated project manager that handles everything from the moment you sign the contract to the ADU installation.

What is the total cost of building a prefab granny flat?

The cost for building a prefab granny flat depends on many things, including the building company and model you go with, how much site work needs to be done, and what kind of upgrades you choose.

Some other costs you need to consider are the delivery, craning, utility connections and permitting fees. Many prefab granny flat building companies leave these prices off their websites, despite the fact that they are required for your granny flat.

As you research what prefab builder to go with, make sure they offer transparent pricing like Abodu, so that the price you’re budgeting for includes everything needed to build your ADU.

Zoning laws and ordinances for ADU units

Every county will have different zoning laws and ordinances for ADUs or granny flats. The best place to start when looking into an ADU is with your local permitting office. They’ll be able to tell you if your yard qualifies and what rules will impact the size and location of your ADU.

Additionally, laws for ADUs in California are changing every year to make it easier for people to add ADUs to their yards. While your yard may not have qualified for an ADU a few years ago, new laws may have been passed that now allows you to build an ADU.

Abodu Has Turn-Key Solutions for Prefab Granny Flats

If you’re ready to begin the next step in your prefab granny flat journey, Abodu is the best place to start for turn-key units. Not only are Abodu ADUs beautiful and designed by world-renowned architects, our customer service is unparalleled.

When you work with Abodu, you know you’re in great hands. Get started by submitting information on your home and find out if Abodu is right for you — it’s free to get started and there are no strings attached. Get started.