Welcome to Prefab Profiles, an ongoing series of interviews with people transforming how we build houses. From prefab tiny houses and modular cabin kits to entire homes ready to ship, their projects represent some of the best ideas in the industry. Do you know a prefab brand that should be on our radar? Get in touch!

When California began relaxing regulations surrounding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in 2016, James Connolly wanted to help lower the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area by adding housing stock. But as he started looking into the new codes, he found that the planning, permitting, and construction of ADUs remained prohibitively complex. “There had to be a better way,” Connolly remembers saying.

So in 2019 he founded Villa, a prefab builder that could handle everything from fabrication, to permitting, to installation. While the company initially focused on ADUs, they now design ready-made homes as large as 1,200 square feet. Here, James shares how Villa has strived to simplify building new houses and ADUs for California residents.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve realized to date?

One of our favorite projects is a collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. We helped to add much-needed housing in Bolinas for families who would otherwise be unable to afford the area. Thanks to this collaboration, one of the families has been able to start their child in a terrific school. We’re excited to do more projects with Habitat for Humanity in the future.

We also love bringing families together. Many of our projects are specifically designed to house adult children or allow retired parents to move closer. According to recent survey data, 61 percent of homeowners cite multigenerational housing as a primary motivation for why they built an ADU, and 20 percent of homeowners build ADUs to create affordable housing in their neighborhood.

What does your base model cost and what does that pricing include?

Villa homes start at $225,000. That price includes permitting, site and foundation prep, off-site construction costs, appliances, utility hookups, and installation of a complete unit. We believe in transparent pricing and outline all costs up front before any work begins, including any underlying site conditions or logistical challenges that could influence the total cost. We are also actively designing additional models, which will make ADU construction even more feasible for homeowners on a limited budget.

What qualities make your prefab stand apart from the rest?

Villa has created a scalable, affordable alternative to traditional on-site construction, and is modernizing the way that new housing is built in the U.S. Here are just a few ways we stand out:

Villa offers a range of designs.

Villa offers more than 20 designs ranging from 440 to 1,200 square feet.
Each home can be customized (granite countertops, skylights, etc) which the client can design online in an intuitive, modern, transparent way.

Villa strives to deliver homes at the lowest price.

Villa works with multiple factories to get you the best possible execution in terms of cost, speed, and quality.
Prefab homes can cost significantly less per square foot than a newly constructed traditional site-built home.

Villa is committed to building homes as quickly as possible.

Because Villa’s homes are built off-site, the construction process at the client’s property is relatively quick, meaning far less disruption to the client and the local neighborhood than traditional construction.
Villa is able to deliver most homes in less than a year from the beginning of the process, while many go even faster.
Villa’s dedicated project managers and construction managers are full time employees, not outside contractors. They ensure consistent quality, predictable pricing, streamlined project coordination, and clear communication from the minute you contact the team about your ADU dream home.

Where do you ship/where is the prefab currently available?

Villa is currently available throughout California.

Is your design currently pre-permitted in any U.S. municipalities?

Villa uses standardized plan sets which help with expeditious permitting. Villa’s in-house permitting team navigates the complexities of the local permitting process to make this a breeze. Villa has permitted ADU projects all over California, so we have deep experience working with almost every major jurisdiction in the state.

Are there plans to expand to different parts of the country/world?

Absolutely. Villa’s mission is to be the easiest, fastest, and most cost-efficient way to build homes. Our California ADUs are just the beginning. We plan to bring additional prefab housing offers to many places throughout the U.S.

How long can a client expect the process to take after they put down a deposit?

While the exact timeline can vary based on a number of factors including site preparation and ground leveling, Villa’s timeline is typically 9 to 12 months from start to finish on a new detached home, including permitting.

What aspects of an install do you manage?

Villa provides end-to-end services for clients that span feasibility, design, permitting, and construction of high-quality homes built using modern off-site construction.

What aspects of the design can a client customize?

Our floor plan catalog was optimized to fit a wide range of budget, design and size expectations, with layouts ranging from 440 to 1,200 square feet. Clients can easily customize each floor plan layout with predesigned variations, including sliding glass doors, skylights, kitchen islands, larger windows, additional storage space, and several tub/shower configurations.

Villa hired an interior design firm to craft a decor palette with timeless materials and colors. The standard decor options include solid surface countertops, shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and sheet vinyl and carpet flooring. Customers can also opt to upgrade with options like vinyl plank flooring and quartz countertops. Villa pared down the typically overwhelming number of options into preset customizations, and helps to guide customers through each option in the “design studio” at our website.

Our site includes the following functionalities:

Villa’s property map & home placement tool: Homeowners can now enter their address at https://app.villahomes.com/map and immediately get clear details on the size of home and design options based on their lot location, size, shape, and applicable local setback requirements. They can place an ADU model to size on their lot and move it around to see what different configurations would look like on their property.
Villa’s design studio: This innovation allows people to customize their dream home online along with clear and transparent pricing. In live time, Villa's tech will update the home design, layout, and project costs.
Villa’s customer portal: Using Villa’s new customer portal, homeowners can track the progress of their home build in real time through one central digital interface. This portal allows homeowners to see where they are at in the process and any action steps, rather than needing to track multiple consultants and permit emails.

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