In our time, small homes have become very common in the US, and the demand for them has increased tremendously. It’s completely unsurprising since a tiny house plan has some essential benefits over a larger one. In particular, people often construct accessory dwelling units, or ADUs — smaller secondary houses on the same property lot as the main residence.

In this article, we’ll look at the most important perks of a 581-square-foot accessory dwelling unit plan.

581 Square-Foot ADU Plan: the Biggest Advantages

Why are small houses gaining popularity? The reasons for this are numerous. Oftentimes, people don’t purchase big mansions due to their expenses and higher maintenance. And if you care for the environment, a tiny home plan can be an even better variant for you because its carbon footprint is much less.

Let’s describe the main perks of a 581-square-foot ADU plan:

• Lower-maintenance. A small building requires way less housework than a large one. This means that you’ll have much more time and energy left to do what you want;
• Cost-effectiveness. It’s obvious that tiny houses are the most affordable ones. First, such a house is cheaper to construct. Secondly, its mortgage, electricity, and other payments are significantly smaller. And, because of the lower energy expenditure, its cooling and heating are not so bad for the environment. With all of that, a 581 square-foot ADU is still a fully functional house, perfectly suitable to live in;
• Wide design choice. You can customize a tiny house as you wish — and its interior design, materials, and furniture required for it will also cost less. There is also a large assortment of floor plan variants. For instance, its plan can include two small bedrooms or bathrooms. Great for a guest house!
• Quicker completion. A 581-square-foot house is not only cheaper but also faster to create;
• A necessity to go outdoors more often. Yes, a tiny house can be comfy and convenient, but it’s still too small to spend the whole day inside it. So, you’ll need to spend more time in the open air, which is much better for your health.

In addition to that, all accessory dwelling units have important benefits, no matter how big or small they are:

• Versatility. You can use your ADU for different purposes: accommodate guests or aging relatives, work from home, do fitness, or rent it out. Note that when you’re creating your ADU plan, you’ll need to take its intended purpose into consideration. For example, a granny flat plan will significantly differ from a plan of a home office. A guest house plan and a home gym plan also won’t be alike;
• If you use your ADU for renting out, it can become an amazing passive income source;
• If you plan to sell your property in the future, having an ADU is perfect for you – it can increase your property value by 20-30% percent or even more.

581-Square-Foot ADU Plan Types

Floor plan variants of 581 square-foot ADUs can be very different. First of all, specialists typically divide them into several categories.

They are the following.

1. Attached is the ADU plan — a plan of a dwelling unit connected to the main house;
2. Detached ADU plan — a plan of a completely separate, standalone building;
3. Converted ADU plan — a garage or another pre-existing structure turned into an accessory dwelling unit. This ADU type is the fastest and cheapest to create because you won’t have to build its outer walls —  you’ll just need to modify its inner floor plan.

If you want to create an ADU of any type or size on your own property, contact our specialists. They’ll make an ADU floor plan, discuss it with you, and construct the building itself. We have experience creating ADUs for any floor plan type. The quality of our work is excellent — almost all comments on our website confirm it!

Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ

How much does it cost to build a 1,000 sq. ft. ADU in California?

The cost of an accessory dwelling unit depends on many things: its size, floor plan type, materials, location, the construction company, and so on. The standard price of a 1,000-square-foot ADU in California is around $250,000 – $280,000, but this number can be larger or smaller.

How much space do you need for an ADU in California?

The smallest possible size of an ADU floor plan is 150 sq. ft. It’s the least amount of space in which a person can live comfortably, with all the necessary conveniences. However, this size is rather rare — most people find it too tiny.