Q&A with ATL ADU Clients Breanne & Johnny

Tell us a little about yourselves and how long you have lived in Atlanta.

Breanne: We’ve lived in Atlanta since 2019. We're originally from Chicago and moved here for work—Johnny works remotely, and I work in Midtown. We picked Kirkwood on a bit of a whim after looking for areas we could afford that were still close to the city.

When we bought our house, Johnny hadn’t even seen it. I saw it once and we made an offer! We were drawn to the large lot and it had the green space we were looking for. In Chicago, we lived just a block or two from Wrigley Field. You could open the windows and hear concerts playing at the stadium—it was a fun environment. We were hoping to recreate that kind of community here in our own backyard.

1bd / 1ba 'Reynoldstown' in Kirkwood. The 327' deep lot is a great example of the ample space Atlanta has to add more housing in its single family zones.

What led to your decision to build an ADU?

Breanne: We always knew that if we had kids, we wanted to transform our backyard into more of an entertaining space. From the start, we began setting aside funds for that vision. Our lot has a pretty steep slope, and our main house bathroom is all the way up front. So if we were going to host people back here, it was going to be a trek—or a mess, especially with little kids running around.

Originally, we thought about adding a small pool and a pool house. But then we realized: what if it could also be a guest space, or something for aging parents, or an Airbnb? If we were going to invest, we wanted to maximize the value—and that’s when we started seriously looking into building in the backyard.

At first, we didn’t even know what an ADU was. The idea started with Pinterest and Instagram inspiration—little backyard builds, pool houses—and grew from there. Once we got more serious, I started researching tiny homes in Atlanta and came across ATL ADU. Then I searched your Instagram for content which was helpful.

The ADU was built on piers/columns due to the steep grade. The landscaped area in the back is a rain garden that is required by COA to reduce stormwater runoff

Your ADU will also function as a pool house. Why did you build it before the pool?

Johnny: We wanted to get all the infrastructure—utilities, electrical, plumbing—set up first. It didn’t make sense to build a pool and then try to work around it. We even factored in a future sauna in the electrical load calculations. And the ADU was going to be the bigger project, and unlike a pool, it could also generate income. So it made financial sense to do the ADU first.

How do you utilize your ADU currently?

Breanne: So far, its hosted visiting family and weekend hangouts with friends. It’s great to have the space when we need it. Eventually, we plan to list it on Airbnb, but we’re in the permitting phase for the pool—so it doesn’t make sense to start renting it out and then tear up the yard again. Once we do list it, we’ll probably start by targeting big events like the World Cup. That’s when we expect higher demand and better returns. With a pool, sauna, and nearby MARTA access, we think it will do really well.

With the privacy of a deep lot, and only half a mile from the Edgewood Marta station, this ADU will do very well as a short term rental.

Why did you decide to work with ATL ADU?

Breanne: The predictability in cost was huge for us. We wanted a clear idea of what the project would cost so we could plan to finance it, possibly without loans. One contractor quoted us $300–$600 per square foot—a huge range. ATL ADU’s pricing was much more transparent.

The pre-designed models also made the decision process easier, even though I still made changes to things like cabinets, tile, and flooring. I probably took every liberty that I could, but I’m really happy with the outcome.

Johnny: I also liked that your designs fit the neighborhood. Some ADUs are really modern and don’t match the surrounding homes. Yours felt like a natural fit.

While ATL ADU predesign models include two finish package options, we are happy to discuss changes during our feasibility phase.

How was the construction experience?

Johnny: Overall, it was good—smooth, and about what you’d expect with construction. Since I work from home, I knew crews would be here daily, which wasn’t ideal, but it needed to get done. There weren’t any major noise issues.

Breanne: My sister was building a new house in Arkansas at the same time, and they ran into delays and budget overruns. Compared to that, our process felt much smoother—and that’s really our only reference point.

A king size bed fits comfortably in the bedroom

What would you say to others who are considering building an ADU?

Johnny: It’s a great way to add value to your property. We had looked at buying a rental place in North Georgia, but it was going to be more expensive—and my cousin has a place up there and has to drive up frequently to manage it. We didn’t want to do that, and hiring a property manager adds more cost. So an ADU brought that option into our backyard, and when we do list it on Airbnb, we’ll be right here to manage it.

Breanne: I’ve always wanted a home that you don’t need a vacation from, and this ADU was a big step toward that. It’s a space that guests can enjoy and that we love spending time in, too. It’s great for entertaining and building a sense of community—some school parents have already asked when the pool’s going to be ready!

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If we can help you build an ADU like this, and you're in the Atlanta area, we'd love to hear from you!