Okay, so you are ready to buy a property where you plan on adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) or already have a home where you are ready to proceed. Because every lot is different, there are things to take into consideration for each type of house placement. Here are three of the most common lots with the pros and cons.
- The traditional lot between homes.
This is where you have a home in between two other homes, such as being in the middle of the street.
Pros: This is the most common home set up. Therefore, when inventory is low, this may be your best/only option. The pickier you get, the harder it is to accomplish your goals, so don’t rule it out. This is the type of lot my wife and I ended up buying and adding the ADU.
Cons: There are two considerations here. One is access to the ADU. You will have to walk past the front house to gain access. Some aren’t a total fan of it because of privacy as well as for deliveries. However, if the main house is on a raised foundation and with the right fencing, you can mitigate a lot of it. The second consideration is backyard space. Make sure you have a large enough backyard to where you don’t take away from the main house, while still creating a yard for the ADU. It’s doable, just need to be aware of it.The Alley Access Streets
2. The second is when there is alley access.
This is common when the garage is detached and don’t have access from the street.
Pros: The biggest is those living in the ADU can access from the alley while not passing the other house. With the right fencing, you can give enough privacy as if it is just a neighbor.
Cons: There are three cons with this. One is if you are adding an ADU instead of a garage conversion, make sure there is enough space for the yard. The second is not all tenants may like the idea of driving down an alley, especially at night. Make sure you don’t have windows facing the alley if you can. The third is deliveries. The Post Office carrier is by no means going to make a special trip down an alley just to deliver the mail. They, along with packages, will most likely be delivered to the front house.
3.The Corner Lots
This is where the property sits at the intersection of two streets. In most cases, this is the most ideal. If possible, create a second driveway for the main house. For example, have the ADU facing A Street and create a driveway off Third Street.
The Pros: You can properly fence it off to give the impression of another property. Plus, for deliveries to the ADU, it is much easier than having to either (a) go down an alley way or (b) down a driveway or other access. Also, depending on the city, often they will give the new address for the ADU of the off street. Using the example above, the main house might be 123 Third Street, but the ADU would be 123 A Street. This makes it easier to find.
The Cons: There are two. The first is if you restrict your searches to just corner lots, you may be looking for a while. So just be prepared. The second is if you have a detached garage and intend on building brand new, most detached garages are on the off streets.
Of course, work with what you have, as in many cases you can make it work. Hopefully this quick guide helps points you in the right direction towards your next ADU!
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