Frequently Asked Questions
Garagify designs and builds backyard homes (i.e. garage-converted apartments or larger apartments built from the ground up) that infuse extra cash into the household or provide more space.
We simplify the process of building a backyard home by taking care of everything from feasibility, design, permitting, project management and construction, at a realistic fixed all-inclusive price, saving homeowners up to 30% in design fees and up to 50% in construction costs, as well as countless hours, compared to them going it alone.
A residential unit that can be added to a lot with a single or multifamily home. While they areofficially called accessory dwelling units or ADUs, we prefer to call them backyard homes.
Garagify works in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Building a backyard home is a great way to increase the value of your property and generate passive recurring income to:
- Payoff debt – Use the extra money to knock out your balances.
- Retire comfortably – Enjoy the rest of your life on your own terms.
- Diversify your portfolio – Achieve your financial goals by investing in your future.
- Support your family – Secure your family’s financial future.
Everyone’s situation is different. So, our lending partners align your specific needs with the backyard home financing option that is best for you.
- Shared Appreciation Loan
- Savings
- Cash out Refinance
- Home Equity Loan
- Home Equity Line of Credit
- Construction Loan
- Personal Loan
You can either convert your garage, build a new backyard home from the ground up or convert up to 500 sf within your house with a separate entrance
Cities must approve ADU applications within 60 days, without a hearing or discretionary review. However, given the delays caused by COVID-19, it’s more likely to take 4+ months. Once we receive permit approval we can build your backyard home within 4-6 months, depending on the size of the unit and the building department’s inspection turnaround times.
The cost of a backyard home varies depending on the design and the property. Our backyard homes start at $150,000 for a 2-car garage conversion on a flat or gently sleeping lot. Our prices cover project management, design, permitting, and construction. This means you get one price for your entire project up front.
Yes, but not as much as you may be thinking. The City determines the costs associated with building the backyard home (note this will most likely differ from our bid). This information is forwarded to the tax assessor who then increases the value of your property based on the cost information received from the City. For example, if the City indicates that the value of the construction is $100,000, the tax assessor will add that to your original property value.
Let’s say you purchased your home for $750,000, your property tax will only increase based on the City’s value of the cost of the improvements, $100,000. At 1.1% of this cost, your property taxes will only increase a few hundred dollars more per year, which is way less than the rental income you’ll receive.
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