Modular Pre Fab / Manufactured home as ADU in N. California

[Drew Rehman]

Hi all,

Looking into putting a pre fabricated ADU in the backyard to rent. A few questions:

1) can a "singular" non-modular mobile home get over my house and into the backyard?  Or must it be modular?

2) I would like to spend around $100K for the ADU and the installation - does anyone know a manufacturer who they have used that they can recommend? Or a contractor?

3) Does anyone know if the manufactured home sq footage would go into the single family home's sq. footage calc? Ex: existing home is 1000 sq ft and I add a 700 sq ft pre fac ADU in the back. When I sell the home, is the sq ft 1000 or 1,700 sq ft?

[Chris Mason]

3) No. It's considered a "feature," like a swimming pool or "bonus room." An appraiser will compare this home with that feature to other otherwise similar homes that also have that particular type of feature. And they aren't going to get into it being a 700 sq ft v 550 sq ft feature any more than they're going to give value for your swimming pool being 3 feet longer as compared to another swimming pool. Just like you don't necessarily want the most over-improved home in the neighborhood, you don't necessarily want the nicest of that type of feature, if you're focused on resale value (as opposed to other considerations, like rent and personal preference).