HomeWiP Blog
Practical advice on planning, budgeting, and building a backyard home — from first idea to final permit.
We built a decision tool, then stress-tested it on four real Bay Area situations. Here's what it found.
Blog
Guides on costs, permits, financing, and floor plans — plus stories from real ADU builds.
A quick, smart checklist for reviewing your construction contract: scope, payment terms, change orders, and the clauses that protect you.
A guide to carriage houses: their history, design, zoning rules, and costs. Learn how converting one can boost property value and add flexible space.
A practical guide to ADU plans: the three types, sizes from 150 to 1200 sqft, the 750 sqft fee exemption, and permitting.
Compare 10 ways to finance an ADU, from HELOCs and construction loans to renovation loans, credit, and newer equity-share deals.
Plan a comfortable ADU kitchen: full vs efficiency layouts, 7 compact appliance picks, lighting, storage, island and laundry tips.
ADU bathroom ideas that make the most of a small footprint — layout tips, fixtures, and floor plan best practices for your accessory dwelling unit.
What it takes to convert a garage into living space: permits, real costs, and 10 lessons borrowed from super flippers.
Turn your garage into an ADU starting at $90,000. Here's what permits, minimum sizes, and the ADU-vs-JADU choice mean for your project.
Learn the 10 mistakes homeowners make when hiring a general contractor — from asking for free estimates to hiding your budget.
