Accessory Dwelling Units
Detached casitas, attached additions and garage conversions — designed around your lot, permitted with the city, and finished to be lived in or rented from the first day.
Explore ADU options
ADU Builders · San Gabriel Valley
A second home,
built behind yours.
Motto Builders designs, permits and builds accessory dwelling units, casitas and whole-home remodels — under one contract. Scroll to watch the Covina casita rise from bare dirt, step in the front door, walk every room, and land on the plan it all started from.
Request a consultationBefore
Scroll to build
The empty lot
From dirt to the drawing.
0%Of the story
CA Licensed Contractor · Lic. #1100591Twenty years of construction engineeringDesign · Permits · BuildSan Dimas, CaliforniaFeatured: Modern Luxe Casita, Covina — 5.0 on Airbnb
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Featured project
The Covina Casita
A detached one-bedroom residence on a quiet cul-de-sac. Vaulted ceilings, a quartz waterfall island, in-unit laundry, and its own private entry and patio. It opened as a five-star short-term rental the month it was finished.
Living · KitchenCovina, California
1bd · 1baResidence
NewDetached construction
FullKitchen & laundry
0.0★Guest rating, Airbnb
- Vaulted ceilings with recessed lighting
- Quartz waterfall island with bar seating
- Light oak flat-panel cabinetry
- Ductless mini-split climate control
- In-unit washer and dryer
- Walk-in tiled shower with niche
- Private entrance, covered porch & patio
- Smart lock, video doorbell, keypad entry
- Wide-plank flooring throughout
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Why add an ADU
One build. Three ways it pays you.
An ADU isn't a cost — it's the only home improvement that raises your property value, sends you a rent check every month, and lowers your tax bill at the same time. Move the two sliders to see what that looks like on your lot.
Most SGV lots allow up to 1,200 sq ft. The Covina casita is a one-bedroom.
One-bedroom ADUs around Covina and Glendora lease in the mid-$2,000s.
$31,200/yrRent it brings in each year
$248,000Value added to your home
$2,300/moRent in your pocket, after expenses
$6,600/yrEstimated tax savings
How we figure this
Value added assumes an appraisal of roughly $415 per finished square foot, typical for ADUs in high-demand San Gabriel Valley cities. Rent is shown after 12% for maintenance, insurance and vacancy. Tax savings combine 27.5-year depreciation and deductible expenses at a 32% combined federal + California rate. Ten-year figures grow rent 3% a year and home value 4% a year.
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What we do
Three ways to build value on your lot
Our motto is simple: if you can dream it, we can build it. Every project receives the same engineer-led planning and owner-level attention, whether it's a 400-square-foot studio or a whole-house transformation.
Home Remodeling
Kitchens, baths, open-plan conversions and full interior renovations. Considered finishes, real schedules, and a crew that leaves the site immaculate each evening.
Begin a remodelInvestment Properties
We partner with investors and agents on value-add renovations and rental-ready ADUs — scoped to the numbers and delivered on a timeline you can underwrite.
Discuss a propertyII
ADU options
Choose the footprint your lot allows
California's ADU laws let most single-family lots add a second unit of up to 1,200 square feet, plus a junior ADU within the main house. We'll tell you exactly what your parcel permits at the first consultation.
Detached casita
A standalone new build in the yard, like the Covina residence above. Its own entrance, kitchen, bath and laundry. Typically 400–1,200 square feet, one or two bedrooms.
Garage conversion
Turn an existing garage into a finished studio or one-bedroom. It uses the structure you already own, so it's often the quickest and most economical route.
Attached addition / JADU
An addition off the main house, or a junior ADU of up to 500 square feet carved from existing space, with its own entry and kitchenette.
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How it works
One team, from sketch to keys
No handoffs between a designer, a permit expediter and a builder. Motto runs every step, so nothing is lost in translation and you always know exactly who to call.
Site visit
We walk your property, check setbacks, utilities and zoning, and give you an honest read on what's possible and what it costs.
Design
Floor plan, elevations and finish selections tailored to how the residence will be used — rental, family, or office.
Permits
We prepare and submit the complete plan set and handle every city comment until the permit is in hand.
Build
Foundation to finish with our own crew and trusted trades. Weekly updates, one point of contact.
Handover
Inspections signed off, punch list cleared, and a spotless, move-in-ready residence — with a walkthrough of every system.
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About Motto Builders
Built by an engineer.
Run like a promise.
Motto Builders was founded by Gustavo and Carolina after twenty years in the construction industry as a construction engineer and project manager in California. The business grew the way they intended: on referrals from homeowners, investors, architects and agents.
We choose quality over quantity. Fewer projects at a time means the owners are on your site and the schedule is real.
- Licensed & insured, CA Lic. #1100591
- Owner-led management on every project
- Fixed scope and clear pricing before we begin
- Design, permits and construction, one contract
- Questions answered the same day
- Immaculate sites; respect for your home and neighbors
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In their words
Referred by the people who work with us
I've had the pleasure of working with Gustavo and Carolina at Motto Builders — an outstanding general contractor. Their communication was top-notch. They were always available to answer my questions and provide updates… I cannot recommend Motto Builders highly enough.
I was asked by my client to help him find a contractor to remodel his property… Gustavo and his team worked quickly and efficiently throughout the project. I look forward to working with Motto Builders on my next project and would highly recommend them.
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Questions
Asked on every first call
How much does an ADU cost?
It depends on size, whether it's a new build or a conversion, and the finish level. After a site visit we provide a written estimate with a fixed scope — no surprise change orders for things we should have caught up front.
How long does it take?
Design and permitting usually run a few months depending on the city; construction on a detached unit is typically several more. You receive a schedule before you sign and updates every week.
Can I rent it out?
Yes. ADUs can be rented long-term anywhere in California, and many cities allow short-term rentals too. The Covina casita operates as a licensed short-term rental. We'll flag your city's rules at the consultation.
Do you handle the permits?
Yes. Plans, structural, Title 24 energy calculations, submittal and city comments are all handled by Motto. You sign; we run the process.
What areas do you serve?
We're based in San Dimas and build throughout the San Gabriel Valley and greater Los Angeles County — Covina, West Covina, Glendora, La Verne, Claremont, Pomona, Azusa, Walnut, Diamond Bar and surrounding cities.
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Begin
Tell us about your lot
Share a few details and we'll arrange a complimentary site visit and feasibility review. Most homeowners hear from us the same business day.
- Office626.476.1768
- Mobile626.476.1623
- Emailinfo@mottobuildersinc.com
- StudioSan Dimas, California
- Instagram@motto.builders