FAQ

What is a Sidekick Home?

Sidekicks are Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - in other words a second living unit complete with kitchen and bath. Other names for a Sidekick Home (or an ADU) include Secondary homes or living units (California) Granny Flat, Carriage House, In-law suite, Guesthouse, Casita (Southwest US), Cabanas (Florida), and more. Most communities require that such a living unit be accessory to the primary single family home. It may be included as part of the primary structure, attached to or detached from the primary home.

Why would I build a Sidekick Home?

There are several benefits of building a Sidekick Home:

1.)  Provide a place where an aging parent can live independently, but close at hand
2.) Increase living space and home value
3.) Provide long-term private living space for caregivers
3.)  Private nanny quarters
4.)  At-home office or studio space. 
5.)  Supplemental income from rental or as the perfect guest house.

Sidekick Homes takes all of this the extra mile by building each unit Accessible, Green, and Beautiful, complimentary to your lifestyle, existing home and neighborhood - with Affordability in mind. Kephart Living LLC will provide you with a turnkey building process.

Why does Kephart Living build Sidekick Homes that are fully accessible?

None of us know what our futures may hold. At Kephart Living, we consider accessibility a priority in how we build. We feel a responsibility toward providing homes that are easy to access and use fully, no matter what a persons age or mobility. We have eliminated all steps at entry and patio doors, our hallways are extra wide, and all of our doors are larger to allow for passage of wheelchairs. In multi level homes we provide a personal elevator that accesses all levels. Our kitchens have open access to all appliances (no U shapes or other tight arrangements), wall cabinets are low and minimal in total, pantries are shallow and easy to use, and there is a knee space under the sink cabinet and the island table for those uncomfortable standing for long periods of time. You will see that our baths are particularly easy to use. There are no tubs to slip and fall in, and all our showers provide a minimal threshold for nearly step-free access.

Does my city or community permit a secondary residence or ADU?

We can find this information for you if your site is located within a large city or county, but to be absolutely certain, Local Zoning officials can best answer this question for you.

How big can an ADU be?

The size is usually regulated by the zoning code of your city. Commonly used minimum and maximum ranges are from approximately 200 square feet to 1000 square feet. Some cities limit the size of an ADU to a percentage of the floor space of the primary home (40% is fairly common), or by regulating the size by requiring a minimum area of open space on your lot. Contact us and we can help determine what may work for you.

Do I need to provide extra parking for an ADU?

Most cities require at least one parking space over and above their parking requirements for your existing home.

How much does a Sidekick Home cost?

Our Sidekick models pricing ranges from $75,000 to $200,000 for the structure itself, plus the cost of foundation/basement, utilities, and site work.

Can I sell my ADU?

Most cities that have adopted ordinances allowing Accessory or secondary homes will not permit the sale of either the ADU or the primary home separately from the other. Many communities require the owner of a property to live in either the ADU or the house. Rental of one of the two homes is usually permitted

How long will it take to have our Sidekick Home completed?

Barring extreme circumstances, we estimate that we can deliver your home in less than six months from your order date.

Can I buy the plans for a Sidekick and build it myself?

No, our designs are copyright protected and cannot be sold or copied.

Why are Sidekicks modular?

Modular construction is consistently superior to on-site construction in quality and reliability.  Modular plants contain all phases of construction within a controlled environment where skilled technicians execute their work safely and skillfully. Modular homes can be erected in your backyard within a matter of hours or days vs. months of disturbance to your family and your neighbors.  Once a Sidekick is designed and constructed, it is a simple matter to repeat the process quickly and efficiently.

Can I request changes to a Sidekick plan?

Minor changes can be made without a loss of time or efficiency. If you desire more extensive revisions we will ask our architects to redesign the home. This custom process requires a bit more time and we request a small fee for this additional design work.

Where can I see a Sidekick model?

All of our homes are built on private property and are not open for viewing, however we will arrange a visit for you to one of those homes or to the local plant nearest your home for a tour of the manufacturing process.

Can a Sidekick be built as a stand-alone single family home on a lot?

Yes, as long as the zoning permits single-family homes, there are no minimum sizes regulated by the municipality or private covenants, and your property is buildable with city utility services, etc. All Sidekicks are complete homes.

I noticed that most of the Sidekick plans have only one bedroom or are one-room studio type living spaces. Can any of the models be modified to provide more bedrooms?

Yes, many can be modified to do just that, but you should be aware that most city ADU ordinances limit the number of bedrooms and the number of occupants in an accessory dwelling unit.