Have you been priced out of the crazy Los Angeles real estate market, but you crave more space? Have you been planning your future and thinking you need an income property or a granny flat for your aging parents? These are some of the issue’s homeowners are dealing with these days,
The city of Los Angeles has recently relaxed the laws and regulations around building ADUs.
An ADU is an accessory dwelling unit or additional dwelling unit built on your property. The official names for granny flats, garage conversions, or home additions separate from the main dwelling.
Whether you want more space for your family or starting a business from home, one of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to do that is with a garage conversion.
You will want to discuss your garage conversion ideas with a local architect who can draw the plans for you and submit them to the city building department. It is essential to get everything permitted for your safety and the future sale of your property.
If your garage conversion ideas include building an addition to your garage, there are a few more things to consider. A single-story addition to the garage or a second story built over the garage will require meeting different city requirements. If the expansion is over 500 square feet, you may be required to meet the low-impact development requirements. Your architect and your city building department will be able to guide you.
While waiting for the permits to come through, take your garage conversion ideas and interview several Los Angeles general contractors. You want to hire someone local. Make sure they are licensed and that they are active on the state licensing board’s website. Make sure that they have up-to-date active insurance and experience building ADUs in your community. This way, they are familiar with all the regulations for your town. You can also check their online reviews and ask for references.
Now that your garage conversion ideas have been converted into your designer’s plan and you have hired your licensed Los Angeles general contractor, it is time to focus on the renovation details.
Before your L.A. contractor can give you a final bid, you will need to make decisions about electrical, lighting, plumbing, HVAC. These items are not part of the plan submitted to the city building department.
In your original garage conversion ideas, I’m sure you included all the bells and whistles, but then there is the reality of the budget. Here are some examples of areas where you can decide that you want to invest or go for savings.
Sometimes you must decide to spend on issues that will not add visible value but are essential structural items. For example, do you need a new roof, or do you wait? Some things can’t be put off, like repairing termite damage or water damage. Pay now or pay later? What are the best options?
The more you can plan, the fewer surprises there will be for the budget and the project timeline.
Consider Structura Remodeling, the top Los Angeles Home Renovation Company. With more than sixteen years of experience serving the Los Angeles Community. The Design Team at Structura offers a free in-home budgeting and design consultation. Their clients love their attention to detail, excellent artistry, and professionalism. They deliver on time, on budget—great pricing, “0%” interest, and “0” down.