Garage Conversion Long Beach – ADU General Contractor
Published by
Mike Smith
11/03/2018
Whats the best way to make money with your Long Beach home? Garage conversion is a great investment. Call us for a free in-home garage conversion estimate. Our contractors have been converting garages in Los Angeles County way before it was cool…LOL. Call us for a quote here 1-818-532-0482.
What are some benefits of garage conversion?
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Pay-off your mortgage faster
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Make up to $2,000.00 extra month in subleasing
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Having help with paying your mortgage
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Extra money to travel while the mortgage pays for itself
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Live life less stressed
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Use the profit from your renters to invest in other houses
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Buy the lake house you always wanted
The benefits of garage conversion are endless and entirely up to you and only you know what you can do with an extra $1,000.00 - $3,000.00 a month. This option is currently only available for Los Angeles home owners. Unfortunately not everyone will qualify to convert their garage into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), legally, that is, so make sure to call to find out your status.
A typical garage conversion in the US could range anywhere between $75,000.00 to $150,000.00. This can be turned into an elegant stylish makeover, equipped with modern appliances and contemporary posh décor. It might appear as though the amount is exorbitant in nature. However, these prices are reasonable, considering doing a conversion in one of the well-sought out areas in California – in Los Angeles. A lot of people are moving into the area for variety of reasons. Therefore, the return in your investment far outweighs the initial expenses that come with garage conversion. To simplify, a reasonable installment for a $20,000.00 loan is around $400.00 – all things considered, and a studio apartment could be rented out for at least $1,000.00/ month. That is a 60% profit-margin income that you get to keep for as long as you lease out your studio apartment.
This type of business is quite beneficial to homeowners because they are able to repurpose their underutilized garage space and turn it into their own private space. Homeowners nowadays prefer to make use of their underutilized 3 beds - 2 bathroom and sublease it to other people for $2,000.00, while paying only $400.00 for their private living space.
The purpose of this article is to discuss the costs of a garage conversion.
You’ve decided to do a garage conversion, now you need to check the legality of such conversions in your area.
In California, garage conversions are called “Granny flats” or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). While laws have recently been eased in some localities to help with the housing shortage, a wise homeowner will check with local planning authorities. More than likely, the conversion will need to get a building permit to legally proceed. Permits will typically cost around $1,300.00 though the cost will vary depending on local statutes.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
If you have just recently decided to convert your garage the latest building codes may require upgrades that were not previously needed; like a fire sprinkler system, tankless water heater, electric car charger, solar panels. These building codes will add to the cost of the project so please be aware.
There is good news with existing garage conversions; there is no need to pour a new foundation, lay a floor or cover the room with a new roof assuming each are in reasonable condition. On the other hand you may have concerns with new insulation, plumbing, labor costs, as well as the previously mentioned issues with building codes and permits. Do not fear though as we are experts and know how to handle this work and can talk you through each step.
Assuming that “Granny” does not want a double wide garage door in her new dwelling, the biggest construction concern will be to replace the garage door with an exterior wall. After the door has been replaced, we will add insulation, drywall and wall treatment to match the room. Other possible costs include matching the garage floors to the other rooms in the house and any major addition such as a bathroom, shelving or a workbench.
The cost for an “average” garage conversion in Long Beach can range from $75,000.00 to $150,000.00 but this can be reduced to $40,000.00 for a “bare bones” conversion or raised to $100,000.00 for a luxurious makeover with new appliances and a posh décor.
The addition of a bathroom alone could cost upwards of $10,000.00 These costs will also be affected by the type of room the garage is being converted into; be it a bedroom, a recreational / living area or office.
Other issues often occur with garage conversions include the HVAC system, windows, doors and added electrical wiring for special items needed for a comfortable living room or bedroom. Allow about $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 extra in the project budget for these items.
As with any major construction project, a garage conversion will require careful planning, preparation and expertise of qualified professional contractors. A careful homeowner will know their own limitations with a “DIY” garage conversion and should use the services of a licensed qualified contractor.