See Inside Garages Converted Into Luxe Homes for As Little As $150,000

Many California homeowners build accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, on their properties. While many of these ADUs are freestanding tiny homes installed in backyards, it's also possible to convert garages into apartments with their own addresses.

The exterior of a garage turned into an accessory dwelling unit, an additional living space on the same lot as a main house that has its own address. Suszi Lurie McFadden

After learning that people in Europe convert garages into living spaces, commercial-real-estate veteran Rebecca Möller set off to start a company that helps Americans do the same.

Möller inside a garage she turned into a one-bedroom ADU in Burlingame, California. Suszi Lurie McFadden

Möller uses proprietary wall panels and parts prefabricated in a factory that allow transformations from garages to apartments to take about four weeks after proper permits are secured.

The exterior of a 325-square-foot garage in San Jose that Möller's firm Symbihom turned into a studio apartment. Courtesy of Rebecca Möller

The walls to divide the garages into separate rooms and other materials for the transformation are trucked to the garages to be installed.

Symbihom materials sit on a truck to be transported from the factory to the garage to be converted. Rebecca Möller

While Möller waits for the building permits to start the conversion, she hooks up the utilities, like water and electricity, which are typically connected to the main house.

Möller is able to build studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom units in garages, depending on their size. They cost homeowners between $150,000 and $250,000 to build.

Before any transformation starts, the garages look like this one — unfinished — with roll-up doors. Rebecca Möller

Möller turned this San Jose garage — previously used for storage — into a studio apartment. Aging parents who live in the main house built it for their child, who is also their caregiver.

This garage is about 325 square feet. Courtesy of Rebecca Möller

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