All Forum Posts by: John A Murray

Michael if you are so inclined maybe he can do some of your renovation work and you can reduce his rent-for a set time frame-for his labor. Of course only if he is qualified to do the work. 

It's a win for many of us, but ask the homeowner who now has a noisy unneighborly tenant perched on his backyard property line. Hello music, pot smoke, noise, loud voices; activity where once silence reigned. At least owner-occupied SFR's with an ADU have an extra vested interest in a good tenant.

30 years ago my city allowed 8 unit apartment buildings (with insufficient parking) in SFR neighborhoods, and sadly, neighborhoods were ruined. Thank goodness that ADU's could not have that kind of impact.

I wouldn't let the ADU affect your life and your hobby. Giving up a nice place to wood work AND having a bunch of people in your backyard doesn't sound attractive to me either. Keep in mind your tenant(s) won't be happy with noisy saws etc evenings and weekends. I'd go with the 600 sf one-person ADU, fence it off for maximum privacy, and try to eliminate as much noise as possible from your shop.

I think you should be aware that the best results at this point in time would be the rental income. Doesn't seem like appraisers are able to give ADU's the value they merit, what with their guidelines and lack of comps. That should change in time, however. Besides, it's your forever home so you're not going anywhere for the time being.

Seems to me that if you could survive with the 2 car garage why not turn the whole 3 car into an ADU, if the rentals in your area are substantially more for a 3 bedroom compared to a studio/1 bedroom that 600sf would provide. The problem is the larger the ADU the more people you'll have close by.

Dylan's right about separation too; build a wall etc for maximum privacy.

A neighbor down the street this year had the major radio-advertising plumber replace the two sewer lines (ficus tree roots) under her front yard. I was told she paid pushing $10,000 for a length of 39ft of sewer line. This company's two guys played around there all week.

Years ago my huge parkway ficus tree's roots invaded, cracking and plugging the two sewer lines in my front yard. I got two strong young guys at Home Depot on a Saturday morning and they dug them up; lines were about two feet deep where they came out under the foundation, and about shoulder deep at the sidewalk (city property line). My plumber friend replaced the old clay pipes with 45ft of ABS, installing clean-outs next to the house, and next day the guys filled the dirt back in. Total cost $1,100 plus $175 cash to scope. Not brain surgery just hard work.

Bootlegging instead of permitting, or a travel trailer in the backyard. Awesome choices.

David so you "designated" your existing attached garage conversion as your JADU, and the next will be the ADU? I guess you had no choice when you decided to do two "units"?

I haven't even looked at any JADU stuff, but it appears that the only real modifications to be done relate to the kitchenette and an exterior door if one needed?

A snap to do compared to what you did with your garage, no?

Did cities want the pre-SB 13 full impact fees for a JADU, also? I mean I have a college down the street with 35,000 mostly commuter students. Many people have rented rooms forever, so I guess the only difference now it is legitimizing the practice/income etc?

Chad if it were me I would get a few bids also. That's not a big or difficult job.

My neighbor hooked up his garage conversion ADU sewer line into his back sewer line just where it comes outside the homes foundation. At that point the two into one (Y connection) line goes 24' straight to the main; saving 24' of some deep digging.