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There's a startup called Cover that's already making homes and ADUs exactly as Airbnb says they hope to make them. Their vision is to build homes like Tesla bui

There's a startup called Cover that's already making homes and ADUs exactly as Airbnb says they hope to make them. Their vision is to build homes like Tesla builds cars. If you live in the LA area, you can order one online and get it delivered in 6 months. https://www.cover.build https://www.cover.build

yellowapple 8y ago
"Their vision is to build homes like Tesla builds cars." So... with severe delays and rising costs?
- cma 8y ago
  Never hit the entry-level price target, but sell a few of the higher-end ones software locked to emulate the lower-end and say you did (then quickly discontinue).
- sethbannon 8y ago
  Maybe the goal should be to build homes like Toyota builds cars? :D
  - yellowapple 8y ago
    That's what I'm thinking. Sayonara, housing crisis!
blcArmadillo 8y ago
Thanks for sharing. These look pretty nice but I just can't get over the price of a lot of these prefab and tiny homes. From Cover's FAQ page (https://www.cover.build/faq https://www.cover.build/faq): How much do Cover structures cost? Most of our structures cost between $300-400 per square foot, all inclusive. Seems expensive to me. Isn't part of the promise of prefab lower costs?
- why_only_15 8y ago
  Huh that is really expensive. According to Fixr, average cost per square foot is $117 [0], so Cover is ~3x as expensive. The benefits of going prefab would have to be pretty extreme to be willing to do that [0]: https://www.fixr.com/costs/build-single-family-house https://www.fixr.com/costs/build-single-family-house
  - alexisrivas 8y ago
    While $117/sq.ft. is the average cost nationwide, the average in Los Angeles City – where Cover operates – is a lot higher. In addition to that, Cover offers backyard homes, which means they're smaller than a full size home. They're typically between 300-900sq.ft. A lot of the costs of a home are the mechanical systems, kitchens, bathrooms – which you still need in a small space. So the smaller you go, the higher the cost/sq.ft. When you look at the numbers – you can build a 900sq.ft. Cover backyard home in Los Angeles for $300K. It's hard to even find a good apartment at that price in LA. Full disclosure - I'm the cofounder & CEO of Cover.
    - harmmonica 8y ago
      Alexis, have you guys worked directly with the city to fast track your ADUs from a permitting standpoint? We’re now converting a garage in LA after a brutal time with historic review (mostly) and planning/dbs (less so). Also to confirm what Alexis is saying about LA... We’re in the middle of our project and though we’re doing it on the cheap it’s mid 200’s per foot. Can easily see how it could be double that.
      - alexisrivas 8y ago
        Harmmonica, Because we build in a factory, we do almost all the inspections and building safety checks with the State, which is a custom process we've developed with the state specific to our building system. This means that our process is faster and more certain than building traditionally. If you're interested in learning more, email us at hello@cover.build - our team would be happy to see how we can help!
harmmonica 8y ago
I think this is what you’re saying but does “delivered” include everything including permitting, built (on a foundation on the site of your choice) and a certificate of occupancy issued from the city? “Order today and have one permitted, built and ready to move into or lease in 6 months” sounds great. Even better if somehow an agreement with the city to expedite Cover’s builds could cut that timeframe in half because guessing the fabrication of the structure itself is very fast relative to the entitlements. Hopefully they’ve figured out a way to streamline with the city.
- alexisrivas 8y ago
  Yes, the 6 months includes all that for flat lots in Los Angeles City. Hillside lots are a totally different ball game because of the regulatory and additional engineering complexity associated with them.

yellowapple 8y ago

"Their vision is to build homes like Tesla builds cars." So... with severe delays and rising costs?

cma 8y ago
Never hit the entry-level price target, but sell a few of the higher-end ones software locked to emulate the lower-end and say you did (then quickly discontinue).
sethbannon 8y ago
Maybe the goal should be to build homes like Toyota builds cars? :D
- yellowapple 8y ago
  That's what I'm thinking. Sayonara, housing crisis!

blcArmadillo 8y ago

Thanks for sharing. These look pretty nice but I just can't get over the price of a lot of these prefab and tiny homes. From Cover's FAQ page (https://www.cover.build/faq https://www.cover.build/faq): How much do Cover structures cost? Most of our structures cost between $300-400 per square foot, all inclusive. Seems expensive to me. Isn't part of the promise of prefab lower costs?

why_only_15 8y ago
Huh that is really expensive. According to Fixr, average cost per square foot is $117 [0], so Cover is ~3x as expensive. The benefits of going prefab would have to be pretty extreme to be willing to do that [0]: https://www.fixr.com/costs/build-single-family-house https://www.fixr.com/costs/build-single-family-house
- alexisrivas 8y ago
  While $117/sq.ft. is the average cost nationwide, the average in Los Angeles City – where Cover operates – is a lot higher. In addition to that, Cover offers backyard homes, which means they're smaller than a full size home. They're typically between 300-900sq.ft. A lot of the costs of a home are the mechanical systems, kitchens, bathrooms – which you still need in a small space. So the smaller you go, the higher the cost/sq.ft. When you look at the numbers – you can build a 900sq.ft. Cover backyard home in Los Angeles for $300K. It's hard to even find a good apartment at that price in LA. Full disclosure - I'm the cofounder & CEO of Cover.
  - harmmonica 8y ago
    Alexis, have you guys worked directly with the city to fast track your ADUs from a permitting standpoint? We’re now converting a garage in LA after a brutal time with historic review (mostly) and planning/dbs (less so). Also to confirm what Alexis is saying about LA... We’re in the middle of our project and though we’re doing it on the cheap it’s mid 200’s per foot. Can easily see how it could be double that.
    - alexisrivas 8y ago
      Harmmonica, Because we build in a factory, we do almost all the inspections and building safety checks with the State, which is a custom process we've developed with the state specific to our building system. This means that our process is faster and more certain than building traditionally. If you're interested in learning more, email us at hello@cover.build - our team would be happy to see how we can help!

harmmonica 8y ago

I think this is what you’re saying but does “delivered” include everything including permitting, built (on a foundation on the site of your choice) and a certificate of occupancy issued from the city? “Order today and have one permitted, built and ready to move into or lease in 6 months” sounds great. Even better if somehow an agreement with the city to expedite Cover’s builds could cut that timeframe in half because guessing the fabrication of the structure itself is very fast relative to the entitlements. Hopefully they’ve figured out a way to streamline with the city.

alexisrivas 8y ago
Yes, the 6 months includes all that for flat lots in Los Angeles City. Hillside lots are a totally different ball game because of the regulatory and additional engineering complexity associated with them.