Issue 20
As you may have ascertained from reading our newsletter, we are passionate about housing - of all types and sizes. For years, we have shouted from rooftops that our housing starts were not keeping pace with the numbers needed to house our growing population. Now our national housing shortage is in the millions – and Washington State and our local governments are changing building guidelines to help get us back on track - with HB 1337 and HB 1110 leading the way.
But we have several big issues in front of us. On the one hand, we need housing, we need to focus this additional housing density in our urban centers, and we need this all to occur somewhat quickly in order to turn the tide. On the other hand, in order to create neighborhoods that have maintained their character and have been gently built out in a really smart way, we can't just put any old housing solution in any old place. And on the third hand (can we have 3 hands?), the cost of building and the cost of borrowing to build are making development plans tough.
When it is difficult to build beautifully-thought out spaces due to cost, we have three choices: 1) Don't build 2) Build smarter or 3) Cut corners and build cheap.
We are proponents of option #2. And we are believers that you can build a beautiful space and not break the bank.
The ADU pictured below was designed by Denise for our local ADU design contest back in 2023. I was just reviewing this the other day and was again struck by not only the efficient use of space, but how light and bright it is, the accessibility features, how screening was used to create private spaces, and just how functional - and fun - both spaces are.
Not only that, Denise was able to utilize planning, materials, finishes that brought the price per square foot down significantly - AND utilize materials that were sustainable.
We really took the occupant demographic into account here and as a result, this floorplan works for a number of different setups. Students, people with children, people needing separate living spaces can all benefit from living here.
Want to learn more about little design tweaks that can make a big difference in terms of price for both a listing AND potential rent income?
Denise has three courses that provide great ideas and design know-how in our Middle Housing Course Design Track. A well-thought out small space can yield hundreds of dollars more in rental income every month and thousands of dollars more on the sales price of a property with an ADU.
As a listing agent, you can become the go-to resource for maximizing listing and rental dollars! The below courses will give you a great head start!
- Designing and Building an ADU
- Smart Middle Housing Design
- Design Innovations that Make a Small Space Live Large
Get any - or all - of Denise’s 3 ADU and middle housing design courses for $99 each with the code SMARTDESIGN
LEARN MORE: https://www.middlehousinghelp.com/design-track
Offer expires 10/31
Look at the large, strategically-placed windows, ceiling height, and use of wood and natural materials:
Plus, outdoor living is a BIG focus. We have an ample back patio with recreational equipment storage right off the patio (great for those people who travel primarily by bike and don’t want to have it in the house). We even included a shared outdoor seating area with firepit! An added bonus? Natural surroundings – an oasis in the city!
Check out the site plan and the floorplans!
