Why add an ADU?
Homeowners now have more freedom to adapt their existing homes to meet their changing needs.
America's rental crunch and national home affordability crisis are at an all-time high. Yes, you'd be earning money from your ADU, but you're also contributing to a socially responsible, smart growth plan for the neighborhood you've always loved.
Affordable Housing Options
ADUs offer housing options for those that need it most: veterans, first responders, nurses, teachers, local service providers, etc. They all need reliable, safe homes priced for the middle-market. Read more about AMI and rental affordability here.
Safety and Accessibility
Health and safety are a major consideration for homeowners with family members that require home care. ADUs help homeowners comfortably manage aging parents or family members with disabilities or other health requirements while giving access to each other, yet offer autonomy and independence where needed.
Starter Homes for Young Families
Boston is expensive. That’s no secret. Young couples and families looking to purchase a home have few options. Families with ADUs offer their kids and their families a way to establish independence and save for a future home purchase while enjoying the connectivity of being close to home.
Long-Term Investment
Every homeowner wants to maximize the value of their home for future sale or for future generations. ADUs make use of your underutilized space to create not only a secondary dwelling but also a potential passive income property. Many ADU owners find themselves downsizing into the ADU and either sharing the main home with their own family or renting it out when they’ve decided to retire
Privacy and Comfort
Cramped households are common in growing or multigenerational families, especially in Boston. ADUs help homeowners create a more comfortable, private living space.
The benefits and use cases for an ADU are extensive. But there’s one theme that links it all together—housing plans, or family integrity planning. This is the process of creating a long-term investment for homeowners who are looking to create the most value, both financially and in lifestyle enjoyment
Types and Styles of ADUs
Detached
A detached unit is completely separate from the primary home such as a detached garage or "pool house" with great privacy advantages.
Garage
Existing spaces such as garages or barns can be converted into separate units and created above existing units, or inside a stand-alone structure.
Attached
These can be additions to the current residence or an attached garage or bump-out. Walls and entrances are added for complete privacy.
Conversion
Junior ADU or In-Law units can be converted from existing spaces inside the primary home and often include carve-out, or finishing an attic or basement.
Is an ADU Right for You?
The answer is: Maybe?
An accessory dwelling unit can be any separate living unit: it can take the form of a basement converted to an apartment; an addition to a home; apartment over a garage; conversion of a detached garage or a backyard cottage. It can be distinguished from renting out part of a home because it is a separate living unit with its own entrance, bathroom, and kitchen. Usually, the biggest factor in being able to build is your local ordinances, zoning regulations, or state laws.
If you're not sure, simply reach out to us, and we will do the research for you!
To build, or not to build
Boston is one of the first, large American cities to implement a meaningful, citywide ADU program.
The process isn't simple, but there is a roadmap, and our specialty is navigating that map with you, and for you. Our goal is to be the ADU experts in the Boston area and provide you with an amazing ADU.
Find out how to add a beautiful, sustainably build, economical rental apartment to your property.
Accessory Dwelling Units:
Boston is experiencing an ADU Building Boom!
You might know ADUs by their other names such as granny-flats, mother-in-law-apartments, or basement conversions; but, ADUs are real homes that require building permits and some investment, but for those looking to create an ADU on their property, yet don’t want the headache of undertaking the project, Incremental Developers is here to help.
Accessory Dwelling Units are a sustainable, economical, and responsible organic solution to Boston's housing shortage. Incremental Developers specializes in building ADU’s of all types: attic finishing, basement conversions, garage buildouts, additions, and stand-alone structures.
ADUs often pose unique construction challenges, in that you are adding an additional living unit to your existing property or "building envelope." It is important to work with a state-licensed General Contractor, who is insured, and maintains an Unrestricted Construction Supervisors License, thus ensuring your project remains legally compliant to existing zoning and building codes; and most importantly, is safe.
Incremental Developers is a design-build firm that uses an integrated project delivery system, giving you the benefit of working with one company end to end, navigating the complexities of the design, engineering, permitting and construction processes that come with building an ADU.
Incremental Developers is licensed and operates under a Massachusetts Unrestricted CSL and HIC license.
More Details
Average ADU Size
Rental Income per ADU
Total Floors/Stories
Expected Build Cost
450 to 950 ft²
$20,000 to $30,000 Year*
1 -2
$40,000 - $120,000+