Watch TRUPLANS INC latest video featuring before, during and after images and video of one of our projects in Corona Del Mar, California. This was a whole house makeover as we converted a single story home into a two story home. Watch video below.

 Dear clients, team members and friends,
 
TRUPLANS INC would like to give you an update with some assurances while we all participate in the mitigation of the COVID-19 virus. These are our principles, positions and understandings below;

• We do NOT operate in fear, instead we operate with accurate information and wisdom.
  
  
• We are NOT over-watching the news which can cause unnecessary anxiety.
  
  
• We are NOT getting our health news from the media which is almost always politically charged, instead we are getting our health news directly from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the WHO (World Health Organization).
  
  
• We take the CDC and WHO recommendations seriously.
  
  
• We WILL continue to work from our home workstations in preparing plans for our clients.
  
  
• We may schedule ZOOM meetings for upcoming design sessions.
  
  
• We realize that many cities have closed their doors temporarily.
  
  
• As cities begin to re-open we plan to actively re-engage with them for projects that are in the plan check process.
  
  
• The Home and Garden Trade Show originally scheduled at the Anaheim Convention Center has been postponed, we will keep everyone posted when the new dates are announced.
  
  
• TRUPLANS INC continues to work hand-in-hand with TRUADDITIONS CORP as we actively map out the growth of our corporations together and identify the exciting new emerging markets.
  
  
• The State of California is still in the midst of an affordable housing crisis with a shortage of approximately 3.4 million dwellings. Our business plans to help address this continue to be developed and focused.
  
  
• Preparations for the introduction of the new TRUSPEC ADU brand (accessory dwelling units) will still continue online and with a new upcoming video. The video is still in production as you read this.
  
  
• We are praying for the safety and good health of all our clients, team members and friends.

 
On behalf of the entire team at TRUPLANS INC we look forward to continuing to serve our clients and contractors with the level of outstanding service we have come to be known for.
 
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS BLOG and let us know how you’re doing...we'd love to hear from you!
 
 
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Accessory dwelling unit or ADU construction cost can easily be estimated. TRUPLANS INC has been working with homeowners and contractors for years providing accurate pricing for custom accessory dwelling units. Whether it is for a new accessory dwelling unit or legalizing an existing structure we can help.

What categories of ADU projects do we estimate?
There different types of ADUs; custom, prefab, prespec, mobile and modular homes. They are also referred to sometimes as a granny flat, in-law suite or a backyard home. Truplans Inc provides planning services for all cetgories, however, we only estimate construction costs for custom and/or prespec ADUs. In the future we may provide prefab ADU construction estimates as well.

How Can a Planning Company (TRUPLANS INC) Provide ADU Construction Estimates?
Our team has been providing construction estimates since 2004 for multiple contracting companies. In 2020 we currently provide an authorized estimating service for several contracting companies today. Since we know your project initmately we are able to provide accurate estimates for accessory dwelling units as well as other types of construction. However, we do not provide competing bids between the contractors we provide this service for.

Overview of Prefab and Custom ADU construction estimates;
Prefab ADU and Custom ADU cost
The cost of custom accessory dwelling units will vary widely depending upon;

• the size of your ADU
• whether it is custom or prefabricated
• the property it is being built on
• the features you desire
• HOA requirements
• local city and planning department planning requirements
• the company you contact
• the experience level and quality among different contractors
  
  

Prespec ADU Cost Option
TRUSPEC-ADU is an ADU brand introduced by TRUPLANS INC and is categorized as a prespec ADU system that removes some of the variables associated with both custom and prefab ADU choices.

A Prespec ADU is a feasible price option for accessory dwelling unit’s plans and construction for a completed, fully equipped finished product. The only thing you really need to supply afterwards is your own choice of paint options and furniture.

How Much Does an ADU cost?
1. ONLINE ESTIMATE REQUEST (fairly accurate) - fill out the online estimate request form.

2. HOME EVALUATION (most accurate) - click or call TRUPLANS/TRUADDITIONS 714.289.4652​

Active Project: 747 square foot attached ADU
Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit

ADU SITE PLAN OVERVIEW
This TRUPLANS INC project is currently being permitted for an attached ADU. The site plan shows the project area of the attached ADU section (shaded in grey). 

ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRATION
Since the attached ADU is on both the left side and front elevations of the existing home it has been designed to architecturally mirror the right side of the existing house. We will share this design with you in upcoming blogs by Jake Dailo (Chief Planning Officer for TRUPLANS INC).The rest of the existing home is being upgraded as well. Therefore, the ADU will become integrated (attached) to the existing structure.

ADU ACCESS ENTRY
The entry of the ADU is on the left side of the home. The Orange County building department indicated that they do not want to see two entrances on the front of the house. Therefore the entrance to the attached accessory dwelling unit is on the left side out of view from the street.

Watch this blog for updates on this live project. Permits expected March 2020.

TRUPLANS INC announced today that the company is introducing several more smaller ADU (accessory dwelling unit) prespec model sizes. Now in addition to the 400, 800 and 1000 square foot models scheduled to debut March 3,4 and 5, 2020 at the Anaheim Convention Center Home and Garden Show, the company is also planning to unveil a 300, and 350 square foot ADU model.

Visit us at the OC Spring Home and Garden Show at the Anaheim Convention Center on April 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2020. The show is free. Expect parking fees at the convention center.

On April 3,4,and 5, 2020 TRUPLANS INC will introduce 6 tract style ADUs (accessory dwelling units).
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• 400 square foot models
• 800 square foot models
• 1000 square foot models
  
  

Prespec is different from Prefab. Prespec has predesigned and preplanned aspects of a prefab unit but keeps the custom qualities of a onsite built ADU. This makes them fully adaptable to the existing architecture of your home which makes them HOA friendly.

Look for us at the Spring OC Home and Garden Show at the Anaheim Convention Center this April 3-5, 2020.

The cost of an ADU can range greatly. We've designed and built accessory dwelling units for as low as $35,000 for a garage conversion ADU and $220,000 for a custom ADU with house remodel included. It all depends on your space available, the size you're looking to build, how you want it to look and the number of features. Our contracting team submitted one of the first permits and built one of the first ADUs in southern California decades before this housing solution was even really known.

Prefab ADUs price range widely as well by percentage depending upon the model you choose and the city code requirements that might cause special modifications to have to be made.

More to consider
An ADU (accessory dwelling unit), sometimes referred to as a backyard home, guest house, granny flat or an in-law suite, can be a great solution for homeowners to develop on their own property. The recent California ADU laws effective in 2020 have relaxed the code requirements in response to the affordable housing crisis throughout the state. These premanufactured housing solutions that can be used for a family member or to generate additional rental income.
 
Prefabricated housing has been around for a while, but prefab does not necessarily equate to low price. Many of the prefabricated homes and accessory dwelling units really don’t appear to be an affordable solution at all. Prices range widely and can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
 
There are certainly benefits to prefab, but there are also some problems. Premanufactured ADUs still encounter custom or unique installation requirements. For example; A prefabricated ADU might not meet the HOA (homeowner association) architectural guidelines. Some premanufactured dwellings are still very much in the development phase as they tool up for the growing demand. This causes the end price to be as high and in some cases even higher than custom ADU planning and construction projects.
 
California cities are working to codify the new 2020 state laws that mandate acceptance of ADU building codes. While this interpretation process is taking place, TRUPLANS INC. has a team dedicated to ADU and JADU (junior accessory dwelling unit) feasibility research with our signature research process.

Mistakes Made by City Building Departments
From our extensive experience in getting permits for construction projects in over 85 California cities EVERY city planning and department makes mistakes when giving out zoning and building requirements when given a specific property. We have learned how to cut through the clutter and reduce the misinformation cities pass out to help reduce expensive corrections.  With the recent laws city plan checkers are more prone to making these errors in the preliminary stages. You really need an adaptable team of planning experts TRUPLANS INC can provide. We cannot guarantee the city will not still pass incorrect information, but we are experienced at helping get to the "real" bottom line with  different building departments. 
  
TRUPLANS INC works with accessory housing solutions that involve three ADU solution categories;

1. Custom designed ADUs
2. Predesigned ADUs
3. Prefabricated ADUs

 
We specialize in ADU and JADU planning and permitting and have a unique building brand for ADU construction and  installations. We can handle your project from start to finish. We can handle all ADU types including custom, predesigned and prefabricated ADU structures.
 
Our ADU design team is based in Orange County, California, however, we handle accessory dwellings and junior accessory dwellings projects throughout Southern California, including: Orange County, parts of Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and San Diego County.