Prefab ADUs by This California Company (Including the Dwell House) Are Pre-Permitted in Many Cities

John Trujillo
·2 min read

That allows Abodu to speed up delivery of its backyard houses, which start at $228K, across the state.

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Abodu started as a weekend pastime for John Geary and Eric McInerney. When California state laws concerning ADUs relaxed in 2017, the pair seized the opportunity and committed to building backyard homes full time. Ever since, the Bay Area company has specialized in providing property owners in the state with turnkey units that can be used to host in-laws, guests, or kids home from college, provide space for aging parents, or be rented out for additional income. Here, John tells us about Abodu’s range of prefab ADUs (including a collaboration with Dwell) and its menu of services.

Abodu Two provides 110 more square feet—or one more bedroom—than the flagship model, Abodu One. The one pictured here is sided in Arctic White fiber cement and boasts a few add-ons: a standing seam metal roof and an expanded 4'x10' deck.
Abodu Two provides 110 more square feet—or one more bedroom—than the flagship model, Abodu One. The one pictured here is sided in Arctic White fiber cement and boasts a few add-ons: a standing seam metal roof and an expanded 4'x10' deck.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve realized to date?

While each project is unique, we’ve recently completed a number of multigenerational family projects that have been extremely exciting. Think grandparents living in the backyard, with parents and kids in the main home. We work extremely closely with our homeowners and get the chance to understand who they are, what they’re using their Abodu for, and decide which of our five unique products will fit into their individual lifestyles. Their stories inspire us on a daily basis.

Jackie and Dan built an Abodu One outside their San Jose home. When their parents are not visiting, they use the ADU as a home office. The model here is pictured with gutters that run along the roof line, an add-on available for purchase with every model.
Jackie and Dan built an Abodu One outside their San Jose home. When their parents are not visiting, they use the ADU as a home office. The model here is pictured with gutters that run along the roof line, an add-on available for purchase with every model.

What does your base model cost and what does that pricing include?

Our ADUs start at $228,900 which includes the Abodu unit, delivery, project management, foundation, utility hookups, and permitting. Permit fees fluctuate depending on the city where we’re doing the install.

While Abobu offers several different options for the living room flooring, light oak is provided by default. The ADU pictured here features a few customizable features, including the 4'x10' deck, folding glass doors, and storage bench.
While Abobu offers several different options for the living room flooring, light oak is provided by default. The ADU pictured here features a few customizable features, including the 4'x10' deck, folding glass doors, and storage bench.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Prefab ADUs by This California Company (Including the Dwell House) Are Pre-Permitted in Many Cities
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