Joe, Juanita, and Tom | Multi-Generational Living for Tenants

Mar 22

Tom:

We bought this property in Upland as an investment, and the garage had a small artist studio attached to the back that we realized we could convert into a rental unit.

Everyone with the City was tremendously helpful, it was a really pleasant experience. I learned a lot throughout the process, and I’m grateful to the inspector for teaching me so much. My advice for homeowners is to pace yourself; it’s a marathon. The hardest parts are just starting and finishing, especially towards the end.

It was important to us to find good tenants who would take care of the house. We found a family that wanted to live in the primary house and move their grandparents into the ADU, and it seemed like a no-brainer. It had never occurred to me as an option, but the demand is there for multi-generational living. It feels like this property is fulfilling its purpose by housing this big family.

When you start renting, my advice is to go slow and steady. The first priority is making sure everything is safe for the renters. Joe and Juanita are in their 80s, so we had rails and shower handles installed to make it safer for them. The first month can be a lot of work because everybody is settling in; you and the tenants will spend time making sure everything works. If you’re responsible about setting everything up, then after the first month everything just hums along.

Joe and Juanita:

Before we lived here, we sold our house to be closer to family and moved in with our granddaughter and her two children. It was very busy with everyone under one roof. We decided to look for a home for all of us to rent in Upland to have more space. Upland is a very safe and peaceful community, and our neighborhood feels cozy.

Living in the ADU has been good for everyone. Our granddaughter and great grandchildren have their own family space and we have ours, but they can come visit whenever they want to. We get to be close to them even when they’re busy, and they get to go through our refrigerator whenever they feel like it. The ADU is a good size for us —it’s easy to keep clean and we still have space for visitors. Our son stays in the second bedroom when he visits from out of town, and on Fridays we host bible study in the living room with our friends from church. Everyone can sit and eat together.

We have a little private yard separate from the main backyard, with a gate and room for our puppy to play. In the summer we like to sit outside and relax in the fresh air. We get lots of sunlight through the sliding doors, and we like the privacy and the freedom.