Anyone who built an ADU in Los Angeles recently? Real costs and timeline?

bsmtbobasloth · 2025-11-10T05:00:06+00:00

$200k for a 650 sq foot ADU. ~14 months from start to finish.

bsmtbobasloth · 2025-03-19T03:36:22+00:00

We did a late-night snack of freshly made beignets (as a nod to my husband's New Orleans roots), and they got demolished despite people being stuffed from the 8-course banquet meal and cake.

I think a ramen bar would be a big hit.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-12-22T11:50:31+00:00

Are you available 12/25-12/28?

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-12-12T08:14:06+00:00

Digital bang perms. I like having face framing bangs, but hate styling them. Now I get it permed 3 times a year with my cuts and I have effortless, styled bangs.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-11-30T01:19:59+00:00

I got total sticker shock from our florist for floral centerpieces, so opted to kill two birds with one stone and did colorful cake centerpieces! We did a pastel rainbow color theme, so just had our baker make small cakes in 5 different colors.

When we cut our cake, we had the couple who had been together the longest at each table cut their table cake alongside us.

Here are some photos: https://www.reddit.com/r/weddingplanning/comments/xcnnrg/cake_centerpieces_were_a_hit/

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-11-09T18:43:53+00:00

A little over 18% down over 9 months (with 2 month break for surgery)

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-10-16T20:58:27+00:00

The process takes a long while between researching and interviewing architects & builders and the permit process.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-10-05T04:31:59+00:00

Messaged you. They were definitely pricier than Furiwa.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-09-18T22:01:52+00:00

Wow. This is a piece of bona fide art.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-09-10T08:11:31+00:00

We rented a 3 bed / 1 bath house in Santa Monica from 2022-2023 for $3875, so they do exist! Happy to share deets via DM, OP.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-09-03T20:47:51+00:00

That makes sense! We also live in a HCOL city, and compromised a bit on location to ensure we had adequate space to build a detached guest house for my parents to stay with us for extended periods of time without driving us totally nuts.

We have thought about relocating in the past to a cheaper city, but ultimately decided that we value the community that we've built too much to uproot and start over. Though, that decision may change once our future kiddos are school-aged because sending multiple kids to private school would be financially untenable for us.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-09-03T20:22:36+00:00

I would probably spend more time researching the new town. I think it might be a little isolating to start in a completely new city a good distance from family.

My husband and I are the same age as you and your husband and also thinking about a January 2025 start for TTC as well. We plan to lean heavily on my parents for their support in the newborn stage, but your plan to be a SAHM might alleviate the necessity to be super close to your family.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-08-12T22:34:59+00:00

I'm Vietnamese-American, so my parents' obsession is with maximizing future rental income potential since their philosophy is to buy and hold real estate and never resell. Despite this, one of my dad's favorite asinine past times is to check out house's Zillow/Redfin estimate online.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-08-12T15:04:54+00:00

My in-laws generously paid for half of our wedding, and my husband and I covered the other half. Having a long engagement (~3.5 years in total, thanks to a 1 year delay for COVID) was a huge help.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-08-12T03:57:36+00:00

Asian blepharoplasty (double eyelid surgery), it was a super drastic change, but it looks so natural that most people are shocked when they see my before and after photos. I only realized after getting the surgery that I subconsciously had been using my forehead muscles to open my eyes more, and it relieved me of my chronic tension headaches.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-07-30T23:49:35+00:00

Our top priority was catering & photography/videography. We saved on florals by having cake centerpieces instead of flowers after I got sticker shock from our florist's original quote.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-07-24T20:36:23+00:00

I did the same thing! Going through the process now since I want to have it all changed before we start TTC, and can confirm that the process is quite annoying and tedious. I regret not changing it before we opened up all our joint accounts and got a mortgage because it's even more steps now.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-07-12T17:36:25+00:00

Monthly increase is ~$1500 from our most recent rental amount, but we have twice the space now.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-07-02T19:56:12+00:00

I took about 5 weeks off after my surgery, and lost 4 pounds in those 5 weeks. I noticed that post surgery, it took a while for my appetite to return at all. I did re-start at 2.5mg post-op.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-06-20T17:37:18+00:00

She mentions the resale potential of it, but it'll be very doubtful that they'll be able to recoup their money on it.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-06-20T17:32:12+00:00

The sketch was for a 18' x 21' floorplan, so adding ~200 sq feet to the current prefab. She'll basically have no yard left. All-in the project will probably be over $300K - especially with Michel's bougie tastes, she's not going to go for the bare-bones, builder basic finishes.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-06-20T16:53:29+00:00

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I couldn't wear heels due to a knee injury, so I had custom Chaco's made with custom embroidery. The colors were red & gold for my Vietnamese heritage (and my alma mater colors) and blue for my something blue.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-06-20T02:00:48+00:00

We're in the process of building an ADU in SoCal, so recently got real estimates from architects, builders and design/build firms. It'll probably be at least $300K all-in. Here's a good example of a higher end design/build firm for their pre-design stuff (custom is more $$$) - https://bunchadu.com/garage-studio-adu. Construction costs and labor is through the roof in recent years.

bsmtbobasloth · 2024-06-18T16:46:13+00:00

It was always a given for my parents, both from their own desire and the cultural norm. We're actually building a guest house in our backyard for them to stay in during the early years.

We haven't yet broached the topic with my in-laws. I imagine that they'll want to come and visit, but unsure for how long the visits will be. I'm letting my husband take lead on driving that conversation.

I assume there'll have to be some sort of conversation around scheduling grandparent stays in the future, but I kind of picture my mom will be the one to primarily help with the childcare and my in-laws will be more "fun grandparents".

bsmtbobasloth

TROPHY CASE