Welcome to Prefab Profiles, an ongoing series of interviews with people transforming how we build houses. From prefab tiny houses and modular cabin kits to entire homes ready to ship, their projects represent some of the best ideas in the industry. Do you know a prefab brand that should be on our radar? Get in touch!
Abodu started as a weekend pastime for John Geary and Eric McInerney. When California state laws concerning ADUs relaxed in 2017, the pair seized the opportunity and committed to building backyard homes full time. Ever since, the Bay Area company has specialized in providing property owners in the state with turnkey units that can be used to host in-laws, guests, or kids home from college, provide space for aging parents, or be rented out for additional income. Here, John tells us about Abodu’s range of prefab ADUs (including a collaboration with Dwell) and its menu of services.
Abodu Two provides 110 more square feet—or one more bedroom—than the flagship model, Abodu One. The one pictured here is sided in Arctic White fiber cement and boasts a few add-ons: a standing-seam metal roof and a four-by-ten deck.
What’s the most exciting project you’ve realized to date?
While each project is unique, we’ve recently completed a number of multigenerational family projects that have been extremely exciting. Think grandparents living in the backyard, with parents and kids in the main home. We work extremely closely with our homeowners and get the chance to understand who they are, what they’re using their Abodu for, and decide which of our five unique products will fit into their individual lifestyles. Their stories inspire us on a daily basis.
Jackie and Dan built an Abodu One next to their San Jose home. When their parents are not visiting, they use the ADU as a home office. The model here is pictured with gutters that run along the roof line, an add-on available for $2,000 with every model.
What does your base model cost and what does that pricing include?
Our ADUs start at $228,900 which includes the Abodu unit, delivery, project management, foundation, utility hookups, and permitting. Permit fees fluctuate depending on the city where we’re doing the install.
While Abobu offers several different options for the living room flooring, light oak is provided by default. This ADU features a few customizable features, including the four-by-ten deck for $10,000, folding glass doors for $25,000, and a storage bench for $3,800.
What qualities make your prefab stand apart from the rest?
I’d say it’s the level of construction, attention to detail, design, and materials that we use. And our end-to-end service removes the headache of installing an accessory dwelling unit.
The bedroom is available in all models except for the Abodu Studio. The doorknobs and other fixtures can be changed from a black matte finish to chrome for an extra $1,000.
Where do you ship/where is the prefab currently available?
Throughout Northern and Southern California.
Is your design currently pre-permitted in any U.S. municipalities?
We are pre-approved in many cities, including Los Angeles and San Jose.
Apart from Arctic White or Cyberspace (the gray color shown above), the standard fiber cement lap siding is available in three other colors. The model pictured here also showcases the metal roof add-on for $7,800 and a mirrored layout with the entrance situated on the right.
One of the first Dwell Houses, built by Abodu, was installed at Leslie Scharf’s vineyard home in Healdsburg, California. Norm Architects led the design of the 540-square-foot prefab, which is wrapped in Real Cedar siding.
Abodu managed the build and delivery of the turnkey one-bedroom ADU. “The cost is up-front, transparent, all-inclusive— excluding taxes, fees, and custom site-specific work—and locked in before construction begins,” says cofounder Eric McInerney. The kitchen includes a full suite of Bosch appliances.
Are there plans to expand to different parts of the country/world?
Absolutely! We closely track demand to inform our expansion plans.
How long can a client expect the process to take after they put down a deposit?
Roughly nine months depending on the city we are delivering to.
Abodu’s kitchens are equipped with stainless steel appliances. They can be upgraded to a Fisher and Paykel suite for just under $8,000. Concrete pendant lights come at an additional cost of $1,200. The default cabinetry is matte black, but can be changed to matte white or wood veneer for $1,000.
What aspects of an install do you manage?
The bathroom in every Abodu model (two in the Abodu Two+) can be upgraded to include chrome fixtures for $1,000 and a curbless shower pan for just over $5,000.
What aspects of the design can a client customize?
We have a curated selection of options and upgrades for our clients to choose from, including roofing, siding, folding panoramic doors, flooring, cabinetry, lighting, appliances, and fixtures.
Some Adobu ADU owners go beyond the list of preset add-ons. Here and in the top photo, the deck has been adjusted to suit specific needs.
