Welcome Home

A foundation for the future

Interior shot of homeowner sitting at the entrance of her Type Five ADU

Welcome Home is a series where we share stories from clients detailing their motivations and reflections on their ADU journeys. We hope their experiences and insights will enrich your exploration and help shape your vision.

The traditional path to homeownership has become increasingly elusive for many Bay Area professionals, leaving many to turn to creative options like ADUs. Dahli’s story embodies this: by building a backyard home on her family’s property in the Oakland Hills, she ensured she could continue living nearby, support her aging mother, and provide future opportunities for her son. With Type Five, she built a peaceful sanctuary for herself: a warm, inspiring space awash with natural light and views of the scenic landscape.

What inspired you to build this ADU?

I was inspired to build an ADU to create long-term value for my property and, more importantly, create options for the future. As a single mom, I wanted to build something stable that would allow me to stay in a city that I otherwise may not have been able to afford. I also wanted to create a space that could one day support my son, whether that means giving him a place to live with his future family or an asset he could eventually benefit from himself. On top of that, it gives me the ability to care for my mom as she gets older and keeps the family close together.

What motivated you to begin this project?

What motivated me to begin the project was finally having the financial opportunity to make it happen. The need and the vision had already been there for a long time, but once I was able to secure the funding, it made the project feel real and achievable instead of just something I hoped to do one day. That was really the turning point that pushed me to move forward and commit to building it.

I wanted to build something stable that would allow me to stay in a city that I otherwise may not have been able to afford.

Exterior shot of a Type Five ADU

How did you explore and evaluate different ADU companies?

Honestly, it took me quite a while to find the right fit. I explored several different options, including prefab models, custom builds, and even container homes. For me, it was important to find a company that could provide good quality, strong value, and a process that felt streamlined and well-managed. I really wanted to avoid having too many moving parts or too many different people involved. 


I spent a lot of time researching online, comparing different approaches, reading reviews, and asking for recommendations. I wanted to feel confident that whoever I chose could bring the vision to life while keeping the process as smooth as possible.

Why did you choose Type Five?

Type Five came across as honest and straightforward. From the beginning, I appreciated that they weren’t overly aggressive or pushy trying to sell me on the project. They seemed confident in what they offered without constantly trying to sell me, and that gave me a lot of trust in the process.


I also really liked their business model. The hybrid approach, combining prefab with the flexibility of custom building, felt like the best of both worlds for what I wanted to achieve. It gave me the ability to personalize the space while still benefiting from a more streamlined process. Their pricing felt fair, and overall, I just had a really good feeling about working with them. They felt genuine, and that mattered to me.

Interior shot of homeowner doing laundry in her Type Five ADU

What design features or qualities were essential to you?

I wanted the space to feel creative and calming, a home that feels inspiring to live in while enhancing the natural surroundings rather than competing with them. At the same time, it was important that the layout feel welcoming and functional for hosting, cooking, and comfortably spending time with family and friends.

What was the design process like?

The design phase was where the excitement of the project began. I enjoyed being able to customize the space and collaborate on ideas. It felt like a true collaboration, and I appreciated that they were open to changes and focused on making sure I was ultimately happy with the final design and overall vision.

Schedule a free consultation to discuss your project, and learn more about our process, pricing, and approach.

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