the rise of adus
These Snazzy Homes Are Built In A Factory, Installed In Backyards, And Cost As Little As $95,000 — Take A Look Inside
Bay Area-based startup Villa sells homes that are built in a factory and then installed in backyards.
These homes, called accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, have their own address, separate from the main house they sit near.
The company offers units that range from a 440-square-foot studio to a 1,200-square-foot three-bedroom, with 20 basic floor plans available. According to Villa, models are priced between $95,000 and $180,000, though that doesn't include the cost of installation and other expenses. Villa permits, builds, and installs the ADUs for its customers.
In California, ADUs have become increasingly popular especially since the state passed legislation in 2020 that made it easier for homeowners to install them.
[A two-bedroom, two-bathroom Villa home. Villa/Nicholas Miller]
This is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home that Villa placed in a Los Angeles backyard.
Heather Miksch, Villa's vice president of operations, said many of Villa's clients have used their ADUs to allow them to accommodate lifestyle changes without moving.
"We've had clients whose parents live overseas and, when they visit the US, stay with them for months on end," she said. "By building an ADU in the backyard, the parents can have a place to stay without being in the main family home."
[The Kantor family sits outside the completed ADU in their Los Angeles backyard. Villa/Nicholas Miller]
Villa built this two-bedroom, two-bathroom abode for the Kantor family in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Villa cofounder James Connolly said that the family turned the home into a guest house with an adjacent in-ground pool that they could enjoy and also use to host family and friends.
According to Villa, the total cost of the ADU was $353,745; the unit itself was $163,500 of that total.
[A shot of Villa employees at the factory where the two-bedroom house was constructed. Villa/Nicholas Miller]
The home was built in a factory that Villa partners with in San Jacinto, a two-hour drive southeast of Los Angeles.
Everything in the Kantors' home was installed at the factory except the flooring.
[The Kantors' backyard during preparations for installation. Villa/Nicholas Miller]
While the factory construction was finishing up, plumbers, electricians, and general contractors prepared the foundation in the Kantors' backyard.
"The great thing about building off-site is you're saving on many construction costs," Miksch said.
The company aims to complete the construction of each unit in under 90 days, she added.
[A crane lifting the ADU. Villa/Nicholas Miller]
A crane operator lifted the house off the truck and into the backyard.
The house arrived at the Kantor property in two sections, delivered by truck.
[The Kantors' kitchen. Villa/Nicholas Miller]
The Kantors chose an open floor plan with a large kitchen, a farmhouse sink, and quartz countertops.
Villa's design team helps customers choose the details for their home, including cabinetry, molding, and color palettes.
Packages include the "modern farmhouse " — pictured above — and the "contemporary cottage."
[The Kantors' living room. Villa/Nicholas Miller]
Villa homes are designed to bring in natural light, with high ceilings and oversized windows.
The company uses vinyl flooring in all of its projects for durability.
[An aerial shot of the Kantors' backyard. Courtesy of Villa]
The Kantor family turned their Villa home into a guest house.
The home features an adjacent in-ground pool, perfect for relaxing and entertaining family and friends, Connolly said.
To see more homes that were built and installed by Villa, head to Business Insider.
