If you are looking for tips on how to build an ADU yourself, you have come to the right place. As experienced professionals, we have learned a few tips and tricks throughout our time to help make your ADU development experience a pleasant one.
Budget Your Project Out Early
Research, research, research. After that, your next move is to plan out your budget.
Your budget acts as a game plan for your entire project. It helps you get an idea of time frames and different steps. Most importantly though, it gives you an idea of how much everything should cost.
People who don’t set budgets often end up overspending by a lot throughout the development process because they have nothing to base prices on. They also run the risk of running out of money before the project is complete. To avoid all this, set your budget first.
Don’t Cut Too Many Costs
Everyone wants to keep their costs down when developing an ADU. However, there are certain aspects of the development process that you shouldn’t cut costs on. They include:
- Laundry
- Windows
- Storage
Other convenient items that people attempt to cut out of their ADU plans are things like dishwashers or microwaves. However, you can buy small, affordable options that will fit nicely within the space.
Don’t Use A Pre-Made ADU Plan
Pre-made ADU plans are not going to work for you and your needs. Every plot of land has its own set of requirements because most people’s main homes are not the same layouts. Therefore, pre-made plans will not work most of the time and end up being more of a hassle than creating one from scratch anyway.
Plan For Contingency
Even the most well-thought-out plans do not always go as we expect. Mistakes and setbacks happen. That is why you need to set money aside for when this happens so that you are not blindsided.
By setting money aside for contingency, you ensure you have enough to complete your project and that it won’t be way more than you originally anticipated.
