ADU stands for Accessory Dwelling Unit. Basically, an ADU is an additional home on a property that also has a primary single-family home on it. Municipalities that allow ADUs give home owners more flexibility with how they use their property and may also see ADUs as a way to help solve the housing crisis. In many municipalities it is illegal to have more than one home on a single-family home property. You may also know ADUs as "Granny Flats" and "Casitas."

The customization process begins when you choose a plan to proceed with. We'll make sure the plan works for you and see if you'd like any adjustments. Once you decide we'll offer you a quote for the customizations. Certain basic adjustments to the design can be made free of charge. These adjustments include deleting items such as extra lights or appliances you may not want. Adjustments that include adding items or moving large items such as windows and walls can be done too- we'll give you a quote based on your needs.

Many ADUs are used by aging parents or relatives, so how can we make them safer and easier to live in? We recommend many strategies used by aging-in-place specialists, but the most important is removing barriers to mobility. Walkers and wheelchairs require more space to move around in; generously sized doors and enough space to manuever make a big difference for livability. Another strategy is to eliminate trip hazards and steps, such as shower curbs. Miami-Dade ADU's designs either already incorporate these features or they can be added to the design as a complimentary customization. In general, we recommend larger floor plans if the ADU is for someone with a walker or wheelchair. They generally provide more space for manuevering