They couldn’t find the right care for mom. Their answer: a backyard home

Shalini Karnani Bonjour, 50, is building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in her backyard so she can care for her mother without taking away her independence. The idea came after the death of her father, with whom her mother had lived in Michigan for more than 20 years, leaving her completely alone after he passed away.

Following his death, the family decided to sell the family home and move her mother to California so she could be closer to relatives. After exploring different housing and care options, none fully met their needs. Eventually, after a lengthy search, they decided to purchase a large home in the Coachella Valley.

A move to Coachella

The property turned out to be ideal for the family, since it included a first floor that would allow her mother to move around easily and use the kitchen and laundry room without needing to climb stairs.

“In 2024, we found a 2,222-square-foot home with four bedrooms and four bathrooms that checked every box and also fit within our budget,” Bonjour explained.

Before purchasing the property and moving forward with the ADU project, the family confirmed with city officials and the homeowners association that the plans would be allowed.

However, the house required major renovations before they could fully focus on building the ADU. The family had to invest significant time and money into remodeling the main home to make it more comfortable and functional for everyone.

More than 10 construction companies interviewed

During that process, Bonjour also began working with an architect and searching for construction companies to handle the project. According to her, she interviewed more than 10 different companies because finding reliable professionals was not easy.

Once they found the right builder, the family settled on a single-story ADU with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The initial estimate for the project was $398,000, although the final projected cost rose to $475,000 after adding several upgrades.

Construction began in March 2025 and, although the original timeline was six months, the project has been delayed and is still ongoing.

Even so, Bonjour believes all the effort “will be worth it in the end,” although she admitted that without her experience as a real estate agent, “this would feel like an impossible task,” especially when dealing with contractors and the homeowners association.

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