ADU General Contractor: Essentials for the Right Pick

In the “Inception” movie, the main character asks the question, which is the most tenacious parasite? Later, he gives an answer that this is an idea. The idea of building an accessory dwelling unit is the epicenter of all homeowners’ thoughts, and the explanation for this is very simple. ADU is an opportunity to accommodate aging relatives in comfort and coziness, receive guests every weekend, generate rental income every month without stopping, as well as realize any desire, whether it’s a home theater or a man cave. However, to enjoy all the privileges of the ADU project, you will need a team of professionals who will do a 5-star job.

In this blog post, we will help you solve this problem and tell you about the advantages of hiring a qualified general contractor. We will also reveal the basic and additional characteristics that you need to take into account when searching, and describe the final steps that will help you pick the right ADU contractor.

Professional ADU Contractor VS Amateur Builder

Before we proceed to the description of the right contractor choice criteria for your ADU house, it is necessary to understand why it is obligatory to hire professionals. This question may seem strange to most of you, but practice shows that some homeowners really believe that they can implement an ADU project without accommodating third-party experts.

The following five reasons will finally dispel this myth:

• Large-scale construction tasks. The construction of accessory dwelling units, especially if it is a detached configuration, is always a series of tasks that you can not perform alone. For example, such steps as pouring the foundation, erecting walls or installing a roof require the involvement of several professional builders. Otherwise, the exciting project runs the risk of becoming a daily torment and the inability to move at least one step further.
• ADU house safety. Building an ADU is not just the realization of your dreams of creating an ideal living space but also a certain responsibility that manifests itself during the installation of life support systems. During construction, it is crucial to adjust the operation of electricity, plumbing, ventilation, and insulation in such a way as not to put the inhabitants of the house at risk in the future. In particular, this applies to garage conversions due to the need to replace all four components. Such tasks involve the work of specialists of four different profiles, as one person can not perfectly master both electrical and plumbing knowledge.
• Heavy physical activity. The implementation of ADU projects is a titanic physical labor. The experienced ADU contractor team consists of craftsmen who perform the heaviest physical exertion every day, which is why their bodies are ready for the most complex tasks. Whether it is transporting wooden piles for the roof of the guest house or installation work to finalize the facades of JADU. The majority of homeowners, for objective reasons, are not ready for such loads, so most often, the construction of an accessory dwelling unit turns into a trip to the hospital for them.
• Useful insiders. Completing an ADU project is not enough to know the basic action pattern. Useful insights from the world of the construction industry that’s the key to success. However, you can only gain this knowledge if you have been working in this industry for decades. Therefore, builders can pick the best financing options, find the best materials at low prices, issue necessary permits ASAP, and much more that allows them to do cool work.
• Permitting process. To avoid the scenario when the building inspection from the local department comes to you, finds violations, and asks you to demolish the accessory dwelling unit, each property owner should go through the permitting process. In turn, this requires thorough knowledge of local building codes, which only experienced lawyers possess, and they can only get permission from local authorities without endless bureaucratic red tape and loss of nerves.

On the whole, no one can forbid a homeowner from building an ADU without outside help. However, the basic logic and the above aspects clearly indicate that, at best, you simply will not complete the project, and at worst, you will greatly overestimate construction costs, lose your nerves, and worsen your health. On the contrary, if you hire a contractor to build an ADU, you get a new and technologically advanced residential area without any losses.

ADU Contractor Selection: Formal Aspects

We can conditionally divide the search for an ADU contractor who will lead the construction process of your future ideal living space into two parts, namely, the analysis of formal characteristics and the study of hidden factors that often go out of sight of property owners. It is noteworthy that studying only one group of factors will not give the best result. Only a comprehensive look at ADU contractors, as a bacterium under a microscope, will allow you to make the right choice.

However, let’s not waste time and start analyzing the formal characteristics of the future general contractor for your ADU construction project:

Relevance & quality of completed projects

We have specifically combined these two characteristics into one point, as one cannot exist without the other. It makes no sense for a homeowner to consider an experienced ADU contractor who specializes in the construction of detached units if the project involves the implementation of a garage conversion idea. To avoid an inconsistency, we recommend that you study the portfolio. This is the main tool that permits you to evaluate the contractor’s experience, review projects from all sides, and make sure they are of high quality. A small hint: If ADU contractors provide references to video reviews of their projects, then this indicates a high level of professionalism and openness to demonstrating top-level skills.

License/accreditation availability

In any business, there are red flags of increased importance that allow you to determine the prospects for future communication in one second. In the case of general contractors, this is the availability of a license. Just compare, the licensed contractor is fully responsible for the quality and safety of the accessory dwelling unit, the specialists of this team have certificates confirming their high-level training, and the entire company’s activities are fully insured. In the case of an unlicensed ADU contractor, all these options will not be available to you. Therefore, always check the contractor’s license and safely cross out all potential contractors without accreditation.

General team composition

Many property owners think that building accessory dwelling units is the process of laying out brick walls, installing a roof, and pouring a foundation, which any qualified builder can handle. However, the building process also involves the development of architectural plans, new electrical wiring and plumbing installation, the design of the exterior and interior, and many micro-tasks such as laying tiles or installing new windows. All these types of work require special knowledge and skills that a specialist of one profile cannot master. For this reason, always look at the composition of the ADU builder team to determine the availability of specialists for different profiles.

The company’s office availability

The construction industry is a wide field for fraudulent activities, and, unfortunately, many contractors follow dishonest working methods. However, there are a number of practices that allow you to identify such pseudo-specialists. In particular, you can visit the company’s office, as many one-day companies are trying to conclude a contract and take the client’s money without a specific location. At the very beginning of the construction process, go to a consultation with the project manager, make sure that the ADU contractor has an official office, get to know the specialists, and also pay attention to the presence of awards and certificates in the office. This is a sign of recognition of the company’s activities.

Construction lawyer services

ADU contractor ensures the legality of the project implementation. This is a simple rule you can find in any well-drafted contract. However, who is responsible for this part of the construction process? Definitely not a designer or an electrician. You probably already guessed that the successful completion of the ADU project would be impossible without the services of a construction lawyer. This specialist knows all local regulations, from the nuances of zoning laws to setback requirements; he will help you prepare all the papers for obtaining a permit by local building codes and will also protect your interests in case of a sudden inspection.

Overall, if the candidacy of general contractor fits all the above points, then you can count on the high level ADU project by all construction industry standards. However, these five factors are the necessary basis and if you also expect transparent communication and maximum involvement in the project, then let’s study together some more crucial criteria of a top ADU contractor.

ADU Contractor: Hidden Characteristics

Exceptional communication with ADU contractors is one of the keys to a successful project. However, recognizing a general contractor that will immerse you in the process, will not refuse any adjustments, will help you purchase materials at a low price to save money. And will suggest the most profitable design solutions is not an easy task.

More precisely, it would be a difficult task for others, but certainly not for you, as now we will talk about such hidden characteristics:

Consultation with the project manager

By analogy with the license availability, to assess the quality of communication with the ADU contractor, you just need to attend a free consultation with a project manager. If, during the conversation, the specialist finds out all your preferences regarding the layout of the accessory dwelling unit, presents a free estimate, introduces the ADU builder team, answers any questions, and dispels doubts, then most likely, it is the right ADU contractor. He will turn the usual construction process into a creative adventure.

Internet reviews

The good thing about Internet resources and various media platforms is that people can use them to express their opinions and share their experiences. Today, before watching a movie, going to a restaurant or buying a new smartphone, we always study the reviews and the ADU construction industry is no exception. Pick 30 minutes and check references, since this will allow you to learn a lot about interactions with general contractors.

Reputation among homeowners

However, there is an even more reliable way to analyze ADU contractors, in particular, through conversations with homeowners in person because on the Internet, users sometimes provide information that does not correspond to reality. In the format of an offline dialogue with colleagues, friends, family members, or neighbors who have already built a new ADU, you can find out everything, even the smallest detail, that is not available on the Internet. Moreover, if your interlocutor speaks positively about ADU contractors, then this is one of the best markers of professionalism and quality.

Following modern trends

ADU construction is a constantly developing business. Cool builders bring new technologies to literally every stage of construction, from ADU plan creation to the design process, use modern working methods and do not abandon the principle of environmental friendliness. If you see that ADU contractor resorts to toxic-free materials, it has the most advanced construction technologies in its arsenal, and specialists regularly offer you advanced methods of organizing living space. Then be sure to take a closer look at this ADU builder team.

Awards and recognition

This factor will help you separate the titan of the ADU construction industry from the rank-and-file ADU contractors. Gaining the recognition of international experts, competitors, and the audience is the cherished peak that any general contractor aspires to. If, during the site or office visit, you see that your candidate has various awards, prizes, or certificates for completed ADU projects, then this is a sign that this team has reached the top. And there is every reason to entrust the realization of your ADU dreams into the hands of this squad.

In sum, we have presented you with ten factors that form the image of the ideal ADU contractor. We will not hide the fact that only a few in the ADU construction world correspond to all ten positions. However, if you have found such a general contractor, then grab it with both hands because this is a guarantee of cosmic-level work that will bring the life quality of all family members to a radically new level.

ADU Contractor: Crucial Interview Questions

Imagine a situation where you decided to build an ADU, conducted a comprehensive analysis on the selection of candidates for the position of general contractor for your project. What is the final step you need to take to pick the best among many alternatives? If you have several ADU contractors on your shortlist, then the most rational solution would be to conduct a short interview with a representative of each team.

There are many guides for such interviews. However, the following three questions can help you identify the best ADU contractor:

• Questions about the ADU configuration. All homeowners start to form an ADU draft even before they meet with an ADU contractor for the first time. During the interview, you can talk about some of your ideas for organizing living space and ask experts to suggest some solutions to refine your ideas. Experienced craftsmen, thanks to their rich experience, will begin to offer you unusual design and architectural solutions in just a couple of seconds, while amateurs will ask you to postpone the development of the draft to a later date.
• Questions about local laws. If you see a lawyer at a meeting as part of the construction team, you can ask him a question about the procedure for legalizing the ADU project. The most important thing at this point is not to confuse yourself, so it’s best to ask general questions. If a specialist guides you at least approximately on zoning regulations, stages of permit registration, and permit fees, then this is a reason to trust his skills.
• Hypothetical questions. The best way to test the professional skills of a construction team is to ask hypothetical questions about situations that may occur during the construction process. For example, you can ask what the general contractor will do if the budget becomes smaller or if your design preferences or wishes about the location of rooms change. If experts describe possible scenarios of such hypothetical situations to you, then these are real ADU professionals.

It is easy to highlight that none of these questions are specific, and that’s their advantage. Any general contractor can answer a template question. Therefore, you will hardly understand whether this team is doing shoddy work or, conversely, performing a fantastic job. However, these three questions will instantly help you figure out whether you are facing a professional or a dilettante.