If I wanted a backyard guest house, how deep would my pockets need to be?

yoga_peanut · 2025-06-07T23:23:34Z

Been daydreaming lately about putting a little guest house in the backyard. You know, something cozy and private—perfect for when family visits or maybe even renting out occasionally. But the more I think about it, the more I'm realizing I have no clue what kind of money I'd actually be looking at here. I mean, I've heard people call these things "granny flats" or "ADUs," but whatever you call them, seems like everyone has a different number in mind. My neighbor down the street swears he built his for under $50k, but honestly his looks more like a garden shed with plumbing than an actual livable space (don't tell him I said that). On the other hand, my cousin in California says he spent something crazy, like over $200k on his—and it's nice and all—but come on, that's practically another mortgage! So let's say hypothetically I want something decent—not luxury but definitely not shed-level either. Maybe around 500-600 square feet, simple kitchen area, bathroom with shower, basic finishes but still comfortable enough you'd actually want to stay there for a week or two. If you were in my shoes and thinking about doing this kind of project, what numbers would you mentally prepare yourself for? And is it even worth it financially? Like would it add enough value to the property to justify spending that much cash upfront? I'm just kinda spitballing here and trying to get a realistic sense of what I'd be getting myself into before I start calling contractors or anything. Curious what others who've looked into this have found out or experienced themselves...

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ADUs & In-Law Suites (Accessory Dwelling Units)

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writing861

(@writing861)

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Been there, done that—my “simple” backyard studio turned into a six-month saga. Permits alone took three tries and a surprise “tree impact fee.” Still, I’d do it again.

That “tree impact fee” is a new one—never heard of that before. Out of curiosity, did you run into any issues with neighbors or HOA during your build? I’ve seen a few folks have to scale back plans after complaints, even after permits were sorted.

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anomad81

(@anomad81)

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- Totally agree, the “hidden” fees are wild.
- Neighbor drama? Had one guy complain about “shadows” from my shed—city didn’t care, but it dragged things out.
- HOA wasn’t an issue for me, but I’ve seen them nix projects after permits.
- Honestly, expect at least one curveball you never saw coming.

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If I wanted a backyard guest house, how deep would my pockets need to be?

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