6 Important Facts About Granny Flats

Granny flats, more properly known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs, have become popular in the last few years. At Wechsler Custom Homes, we have been designing these homes and selling granny flat plans for many years in California, and we’d like to share some helpful information about these housing units.

1. There Are Many Reasons To Build Granny Flats

Granny flats are so versatile, and they can be used for many purposes. Of course, ADU’s are called “granny flats” because many people build these homes for their parents. It can be a great way for families to stay together while still providing some privacy. Your mom or dad can relax in their own fully contained home, but you will have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you can be near them quickly if they need assistance.

Some homeowners use them for income as rental units. These days, with California experiencing a huge housing shortage, ADUs are in high demand. You can use them as a long-term rental or as a short-term rental. If you are using them for short-term guests, these also are a great place to have your out-of-town guests stay.

If you have children fresh out of a college who need a place to live, this is a great option as they have a bit more freedom and privacy than living in your main house, yet they are close by. We’ve even met a few homeowners that swapped their big house for the ADU and rented out their larger house to enjoy the extra income.

Still, others build an ADU not as a granny flat, but as a home office. With more and more people working at home, an ADU can serve as a great, private workspace. If you have young children in the main house, it can be difficult to work, as many families discovered during the pandemic. However, with an ADU, you can have a quiet, price workspace yet still be near your kids.

2. California Recently Passed ADU-Friendly Laws

While you need permits to build any type of home, including granny flats, in the past, it has been difficult for homeowners to gain approval to build ADUs on their property. Recent legislation in California has paved the way for homeowners and property owners to start building ADUs.

Assembly Bill 68 helps to speed up the approval process for granny flats. In the past, county and city governments had 120 days to approve or reject an ADU project. Under this legislation, local agencies have to approve or deny permits within 60 days for all ADUs to be built on land with existing single-family or even multi-family structures.

Additionally, this bill makes it more difficult to restrict the building of granny flats that are 800 square feet or smaller. Another piece of legislation, Assembly Bill 69, sets a building code standard for ADUs and helps homeowners attain loans for the construction of these homes.

Going even further, Senate Bill 13, makes it illegal for local governments to require that the owner of the property lives on the property where the ADU is being built. This bill also reduces the fees that local governments can charge to build granny flats. These new laws came about in response to our housing shortage in California. All of this is good news for property owners, making it much easier to consider adding these units to their property.

3. We Have ADA-Compatible Options

Many of our customers do purchase these tiny homes as “granny flats,” and it can be great to opt for granny flat plans that are compatible with standards set in place by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). These granny flats will provide wheelchair accessibility throughout the home as well as ADA-compliant access to the bathroom.

Our ADA-compatible granny flat plans include ramp-style entrances, open floor plans and easy access into the bathroom and bedroom. These floors plans allow for a high level of mobility, which means your family member can enjoy privacy and independence for as long as possible. Our Mavis and Statia granny flat plans were designed with ADA compatibility in mind, but many of our other ADUs can be altered for easier accessibility.

4. Semi-Custom ADUs Are Less Expensive

If you opt for a fully custom granny flat, this will come with a higher price tag because you will pay extra for the plans. With a semi-custom ADU plan, you will save time and money. The plans are inexpensive because they already have been created and it takes less time to build because the number of materials needed to complete is already clearly laid out.

However, semi-custom doesn’t mean you don’t have control over many design features. At Wechsler Custom Homes, our semi-custom granny flat plans can be tailored to suit your tastes and needs. You can alter the look of the exterior and select from a wide array of flooring, cabinetry, countertops and fixtures to create just what you want.

5. Our Granny Flats Include Many Features

As a custom home builder and semi-custom home builder, we offer many standard specifications that you won’t find with other builders. Our homes include solar systems, ceiling fans, programmable thermostats, LED recessed lighting and many other energy-efficient features. In the kitchen, we offer a huge selection of cabinetry options, as well as granite countertops and G.E. stainless steel appliances. Throughout the home, you will be able to customize door options, flooring options and many decorative features. To learn more about the design and construction elements we provide, check our Standard Specifications page.

Keep in mind, if you don’t find exactly what you want within our standard specifications, we do offer equitable allowances in lieu of these specifications. We do not subscribe to the idea that customer upgrades or preferences should carry unreasonable upcharges.

6. Granny Flats Can Be More Spacious Than You Think

When you search for “tiny homes” on the internet, you find a lot of granny flat plans or tiny home plans that are less than 400-square feet, which definitely fits the “tiny” description. However, we have granny flat plans that range from 400-square-feet up to nearly 1,200 square feet.

We can provide you with spacious ADU plans for just about any property. Keep in mind that the interior design can make a home feel larger than the square footage might suggest. Our smallest property, the 400-square-foot Eli plan is an open-concept studio with high ceilings that feels roomier than you might think, and we can even add on a single-car garage to truly transform this efficiency ADU unit into a home.

Our smaller plans are ideal for smaller properties, but we have several two-bedroom units with more than 1,000-square-feet. These homes are ideal for people with larger properties who want a larger guest house or mother-in-law dwelling. They also can be a good match for people who simply want a smaller home, but with all the modern conveniences.

These days many people long for a smaller space. It’s easier to maintain and we often don’t use all of the rooms in larger homes, so why pay for space you won’t use? We have a few clients who have opted for a tiny home and then built a larger detached garage to house their RV and equipment such as boats, Jet Skis, etc. These garages can even be built with studio apartments above them for use as a rental unit or guests.

If you want to learn more about purchasing our granny flat plans or are interested in building a granny flat or ADU anywhere in Placer County, give us a call today. Be sure to browse through our House Plans and Pricing pages to get an idea about the types of designs we offer and cost estimates.

Semi-Custom Homes: 7 Features We Can Customize

While many people long for the days when they can build their dream custom home, they might not realize that a semi-custom home can be a better and more affordable option. We’ve been building semi-custom homes for years and each home is truly unique. Here’s a look at what we can customize and why it might be wise to opt for a semi-custom design. 

Custom Homes Vs. Semi-Custom Homes

A custom home is just what it sounds like – an architect creates an entirely custom design from the ground up. With a “semi custom home,” you can choose from dozens of designs that we have on file and then transform that design into exactly what you want.

The advantage with the semi-custom home is that because we already have plans created and we know that we can source the materials in those plans, the cost is substantially less for the customer. A semi-custom home also is faster to build and while it won’t be 100% custom, we offer so many design options, your home won’t look like anyone else’s home.

What We Can Customize

When you look at our house plans, it’s important to know that these plans are just a jumping-off point. None of our finished products looks exactly like the pictures and all of our customers make a few alterations, including:

1. Reversing A Floor Plan

If you see a plan you love, but you want to reverse the floor plan and move the garage or entry to the other side of the home, this can be accommodated. Our clients often make this change, especially if a reversed floor plan makes more sense on your property.  

2. Changing The Size

In some cases, you might want to take one of our plans and make the home slightly smaller or larger, and this usually can be accommodated fairly easily. With a larger home, there will be more costs for materials naturally, but if you want larger bedrooms or a larger family room, etc., this can be a good option.

3. Modifying The Elevations

Some of our plans will include steps here and there, such as a step down from the foyer into the living room or family room. If you prefer to keep everything level, that can be altered. In some cases, you might want to add steps in a room for dramatic effect. It’s all about choice.

4. Adding To The Garage

Many of our plans include a two-car garage, but we often can modify this to add a third garage. We also can build semi-custom detached RV garages and shops, which many of our customers love. We can even add a tiny house in the backyard, which can be ideal as an office, studio, guest house or even as a rental unit to add extra value to your property.

5. Changing Floor Plans

While we can reverse a floor plan, we also can modify the actual floor plan for many of our semi custom homes. For instance, when you look through our plans, you will notice that some state that you can choose between 3-4 bedrooms or choose between 2-3 bathrooms. But we also can make other changes. If you would prefer to have a home office instead of a dining room, for example, we could close up wall space in the dining room to create a private office.

6. Exterior Finishes

We have many options to consider for your semi-custom home’s exterior and while you obviously can alter the color of your home’s exterior, you also can choose from different types of materials, such as siding, stone or stucco, etc.

You can add decorative shutters or remove them from a design if you prefer. You can opt for French windows, double-hung windows, casement windows and more. We have many options available with a wide range of styles, so whether you want a sleek, contemporary home or perhaps something traditional or Mediterranean in style, there are plenty of choices with semi custom homes.

7. Interior Finishes

Within the category of interior finishes, there are so many options! We have tons of flooring choices, including hardwood, waterproof LVP, tile and carpeting, and, naturally, within those flooring options, there are an array of choices.

The homeowner also selects from an array of cabinetry in the kitchen and bathrooms, and we offer designer cabinetry with a choice of cherry, maple, oak, alder, pecan or painted wood. There are hundreds of stains options, as well. In the kitchens, you can select from many different styles of granite countertops and full-tile backsplashes. These are just of few of the many customizable features you can select when designing your home’s interior.

Our Standard Specifications

When you purchase a semi-custom home from Wechsler Custom Homes, the price includes a myriad of standard features. This includes just about everything you need to truly put your decorative stamp on your home, such as flooring, cabinetry, countertops, windows, doors, paint colors, etc.

Each home also includes a solar system, central air conditioning, a programmable thermostat, ceiling fans in the bedrooms and family rooms and many other features to help make your home as energy-efficient as possible. You can take a look at all of our standard specs here at https://www.wechslercustomhomes.com/specs.

Keep in mind, if you don’t find exactly what you want within our standard specifications, we do offer equitable allowances in lieu of our specifications. As experienced semi-custom and custom home builders, we do not subscribe to the idea that customer upgrades or preferences should carry unreasonable upcharges.

If you have been searching for semi-custom homes or custom home builders in California, contact the team at Wechsler Custom Homes today. We can provide you with an amazing new home in Auburn, CA, Foresthill, CA or anywhere in Placer County. If you haven’t selected a plot of land, we can even help you find the best homesite and Placer County has many wonderful options.

4 Easy Steps To An On-Trend Timeless Kitchen

Pro Home Builder Tip 1: White Cabinets Are King

Here’s the scenario- you finally get those painted white kitchen cabinets you’ve always wanted. That modern farmhouse ambiance you were going for complete with matte black finishes made it to fruition. But now suddenly forest green cabinets and brass finishes are trending on Pinterest and the look is more than just gaze worthy, it is eye catching. FOMO sets in, but don’t let it get the best of you. Style trends are fickle. You were spot on with those white cabinets, they are a classic choice that will stand the test of time, or at least out live that forest green.

Pro Home Builder Tip 2: Define Your Style

So, how do you achieve the trending look and stay up to date on your home décor without reinventing the wheel and breaking the bank? It’s easier than you think. The best place to start is by making a decision on the overall style you’d like to achieve. For a vintage infused look in this case, forest green paint and brass finishes are going to do the trick.

Pro Home Builder Tip 3: Save The Painting For The Walls

Repainting cabinetry can be costly, time consuming and honestly a bit of a nightmare. Don’t touch those cabinets. You can easily obtain the current trend in your kitchen by adding a fresh coat of forest green paint to an accent wall instead.

Pro Home Builder Tip 4: Accessorize With Finish Colors

You can add additional layers of style by simply changing out light fixtures, pendants, faucets, and accessories with a brass finish that pops. New dish towels in striped forest green along with a soap dispenser and utensil holder in brass will complete the look. Bowls, paper towel holders and cabinet knobs are all items you can easily swap for a new color. What do you have sitting on that kitchen counter that can be updated? Think of your white cabinets as everlasting bones for the base of your kitchen. They are the center of your style universe, anything around them that moves can be changed to accommodate the next best trend.

5 Reasons To Build A New Home in Auburn, CA

If you are searching for a location to build your dream home in California, building a new home in Auburn, CA is a fantastic option. Located in Placer County, Auburn and the surrounding area offer a host of amenities and benefits for residents.

1. Small Town Ambiance

If you crave the charm of a picturesque small town and country living but still want close access to the city, Auburn can be an ideal match. Auburn is just 35 minutes from Sacramento, yet it feels like a world away. Auburn is considered part of the Sacramento metro area, yet with fewer than 14,000 residents, there’s definitely a small-town feel.

Auburn and Placer County built up quickly after the Gold Rush, and there are many fine examples of 19th-century architecture throughout the town. The historic downtown features shops, antique shops, galleries, museums and restaurants. The town also provides all the modern conveniences such as hospitals, drug stores, grocery stores and a weekly farmers market.

2. An Ideal Climate

One of the perks of living in Placer County is the climate. Auburn residents enjoy more of a four-season climate than most people in California without the inconvenience of a harsh winter. July and August are the hottest months with highs in the low 90s, but temperatures start to cool in September and October and residents enjoy an explosion of fall colors. We even have occasional snowfall, although certainly not at the level of the nearby mountains. Generally, temperatures are mild and pleasant, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors virtually every day of the year.

3. A Myriad of Activities

There’s so much to do in Placer County! Aside from enjoying the fun in Old Town Auburn, we have 20 wineries as well as about a dozen breweries. While life has been disrupted by the global pandemic, Placer County usually hosts a variety of interesting festivals throughout the year, such as music festivals, arts & crafts festivals, culinary festivals and there’s even an annual eggplant festival in Loomis.

If you love museums and historical landmarks, Placer County and Auburn offer plenty of options. The Placer County Museum is located in our stunning historic courthouse and includes artifacts relating to the Gold Rush, as well as Native American artifacts. The Bernhard Museum Complex is another option and includes a restored Victorian-era farmhouse, a restored 19th century winery and a carriage barn filled with 19th-century wagons. The Gold Rush Museum is yet another option for history buffs, and these are just the options available in Auburn.

4. The Great Outdoors

If you love nature, Placer County is an ideal place to call home. For golf lovers, you will find several excellent courses in Auburn as well as a dozen more throughout the county. Hiking and biking areas abound throughout Placer County. The Auburn State Recreation Area includes 40 miles of the American River where you can enjoy boating, fishing and even whitewater rafting. Auburn is also just 80 miles from Lake Tahoe, which offers a wide array of activities, including several ski areas.

5. Many Options For Homebuilding

While you can purchase an existing home, building a new home in Auburn, CA, provides you with the opportunity to create a home that is truly one of a kind and the ideal home for you. Additionally, you have the opportunity to select your lot and Auburn and Placer County have so many lot options.

While many of our clients come to use with a lot already purchased, we are happy to match you with the perfect lot if you don’t yet have a homesite. You can choose from smaller parcels in established neighborhoods or select a more rural location. There are even many lots with substantial acreage if you have a dream of being surrounded by nature.

What About Costs?

There’s no getting around the fact that California’s real estate is expensive, but building a new home in Auburn, CA, costs significantly less than building or buying in many other areas of the state such as the San Francisco area as well as Southern California. The average price of a Wechsler Custom Home is about $495,000. While this does not include your lot, it does include a myriad of specifications that most custom home builders do not provide.

For instance, our homes come standard with energy-efficient features such as solar panels, ceiling fans, programmable thermostats, quality insulation, LED recess lighting, insulated entry doors, insulated double-pane glass windows, tankless water heaters and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems.

While those features reduce your energy costs, the real fun is putting your own personal touch on our semi-custom homes. Let’s talk about kitchens, for example. We offer Homecrest designer cabinetry as a standard feature. You can select from cherry, maple, oak or pecan woods with hundreds of stain and paint finishes. Granite countertops, stainless steel ranges, microwaves and dishwashers also are standard features.

We also add helpful features such as ensuring that all bedrooms, family rooms and kitchens are pre-wired for cable TV and telephone. Homes are pre-wired for emergency backup generators, interior sprinkler systems are standard, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are placed throughout the home. When it comes to our standard specifications, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Our standard features provide a wide range of choices, but we do offer equitable allowances in lieu of our specifications and do not subscribe to the idea that customer upgrades or preferences should carry unreasonable upcharges.

If you are interested in building a new home in Auburn, CA or anywhere in Placer County, contact Wechsler Custom Homes at any time. As a custom home builder, we offer more than 40 house plans as well as complete construction services. Be sure to take a look at our House Plans and Pricing pages so that you can get an idea of the types of homes we can build as well as the projected budgets.