How to Find a Good ADU Contractor?

What are the first things homeowners think about when they make the final decision to start the construction process of their future accessory dwelling unit? That’s right, they start dreaming about the ADU design, about spending time together with family members, or passive income generation as a result of using the ADU as a rental unit. However, all these ADU plans will remain dreams if you do not choose a good ADU builder team to implement the draft.

Today we will help you deal with this tall order. We will talk about the reasons for hiring professional ADU contractors compared to handymen, the preparatory steps before choosing and the aspects that will help you pick the best candidate among all general contractors.

ADU General Contractor: Hire or Not?

The most common adjective that ordinary homeowners, experts and builders use in relation to an accessory dwelling unit is “variable”. Interestingly, we can find a manifestation of this phenomenon even before the start of the construction process. In particular, you have a choice between implementing the ADU construction project on your own, entrusting it into the hands of a handyman or hiring a licensed contractor.

We immediately exclude the first option; therefore, let’s compare how an accredited ADU contractor is better than a handyman:

• Insurance availability. Working with large-scale construction projects is always a high risk of serious injury. In the case of accredited firms, each builder has insurance for such cases, unlike a handyman, who may ask you about compensation.
• Contractual obligations. A handyman is a person who works for himself and if his life plans suddenly change, he can quit his job and go to his home in San Diego or Seattle. However, you will definitely not encounter this if you decide to hire professionals who take responsibility for completing the project and confirm this with a contract.
• Monetary damage coverage. Nevertheless, if such a situation occurs, then as a result of interaction with a licensed company, you have a 100% guarantee that you will receive a large sum of money that will cover all investments for labor costs or materials, thereby allowing you to stay within the original budget.
• Relevant experience. You can not find accredited companies with several months of experience in the construction industry. These are always experienced teams with an outstanding set of successfully completed ADU projects. On par with this, this experience can have many sources of confirmation. However, we can not say the same about a handyman, who can create a website profile himself and fill it with any unverified information.
• Potential risks. The same license is a guarantee that the final project will meet all security requirements, that your family members can feel at ease, and that you have no reason to worry that in two weeks, the ADU components will start to fail. In the case of a handyman, no one will give you such guarantees, which means that further everyday life can turn into big trouble.

On the whole, a handyman is just a worker who decides to pick up a spatula and declare that he will make a dream ADU for you. In reality, collaboration with such a master will lead to many unforeseen challenges, some of which may have unpleasant consequences. However, this is definitely not about licensed professionals who always follow industry standards and perform high-quality and reliable work.

General Contractor Pick: Crucial Preparatory Step

After making an obvious choice in favor of a licensed ADU contractor, the property owner may think that the next step will be the direct selection of a candidate for the ADU project implementation. However, there is no need to rush, as we have not yet told you about the second preparatory stage. In particular, we want to reveal a crucial aspect: awareness of your preferences about future contractors.

Here, we identify three main factors:

1. Detailed requirements list. Let’s face it: it will be very difficult for homeowners to establish transparent communication with the general contractor without a clear understanding of the ADU concept. Therefore, we recommend making a list of ideas in advance. It can be anything, e.g., the number of rooms, the preferred color for the walls, the configuration of furniture or decorative elements. The most essential thing is that the more company representatives know about your requirements and preferences, the more effectively they will do their job.
2. Budget size. Very often, already at the first meeting, ADU contractors present approximate construction costs, and this is correct because if your budget does not meet the requirements of the company, then there is no point in future practical interaction. To avoid such a situation, estimate all cost items in advance, in particular, the cost of work per square foot in your local area and the cost of materials and services. Also, do not forget to include unforeseen expenses. Having an idea of the approximate budget will make it easier for you to negotiate with a general contractor.
3. ADU permitting process. Even a cursory study of building codes will make it much easier for the property owner to find the perfect candidate. Firstly, this aspect will adjust the final ADU draft cost. Secondly, you will be aware of the need to check the company for the presence of lawyers in its composition. Thirdly, if you have an idea about complexity or simplicity of local construction permits, it will be easier to plan the search for skilled professionals in this field.

After you answer these three questions, an image of the most suitable contractor for your ADU project will begin to form in front of you, and the tips from the following part will help you make the final and most importantly the right choice.

Checklist for Your Dream General Contractor

In the title of this part, we mentioned the word “dream” for a certain reason, as only one among hundreds of ADU contractors can build the ADU of your dreams. With the help of the factors from the previous part, we have already narrowed the search circle a little, but how do we make the final choice? To do this, it will be enough for each property owner to study the following five points.

Portfolio analysis

Exploring a portfolio with completed projects is the first step that every property owner should take. This analysis permits you to evaluate ADU construction quality, the compliance of the company’s profile with your interests, the presence of innovations in the construction approach, creativity in completing tasks and their variability. From experience, let’s say that the right contractor always puts out the most detailed reviews of its ADU projects. This is a good sign that says that the company has nothing to hide from future customers.

Certificates and awards availability

After studying past projects, we recommend you to proceed to the analysis of the availability of certificates, awards and prizes. You may ask, is this factor really crucial? Yes, because only the recognition of general contractor’s work by competitors and industry experts can elevate it to the pantheon of the great. The availability of certificates and awards indicates that this team of specialists is moving out of their comfort zone, constantly improving their skills and looking for new solutions that allow them to stay ahead of other ADU contractors.

Specialists Pool

Successful project is the result of the hard work of a larger team, which, as you can guess, consists not only of builders who lay brick walls or pour concrete foundations. Reputable contractor has at least creative specialists who design ADU projects, architects who are responsible for developing residential plans and lawyers who can in one second provide references on all local regulations and building codes regarding ADU construction.

Online reviews study

Nowadays, expressing one’s opinion on the Internet is a generally accepted norm and the topic of ADU contractors is no exception. Homeowners very often write big reports about interaction with general contractors, describe this process in detail and almost always agree to answer any questions. Just a couple of hours of studying reviews can help you form a final idea about the potential contractors you are considering for the position of ADU project executor.

Past clients opinions

On par with this, the easiest and most reliable way to verify the professionalism of ADU contractors is to communicate with property owners who have already completed the construction of accessory dwelling units. These conversations will allow you to gain insights that you can not find on any official website. At the same time, it can be both affirmative characteristics and horror stories about companies that violate all terms and agreements. The most essential thing is that previous clients are always honest in their stories, 

and if they express a positive opinion about the company, then it means that you can trust it because there is nothing more valuable than the loyalty of the audience.

That’s all. You will no longer need to study any additional aspects of the work of the construction team, because these five factors

 make up a perfectly balanced formula

 for finding the right ADU contractor. The only additional thing you can perform is the short interview arrangement with representatives of the company to make sure of their competencies and dispel any doubts.

Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ

What is the biggest red flag in the prospective contractor’s analysis for the implementation of the ADU draft?

The lack of accreditation/license should immediately scare you and your family members away from considering this candidate’s application. Forget about any promises of high quality, high demand indicators, or a rich portfolio that such a contractor will show you. Only licensed contractors can ensure the safety of the completed job and guarantee the reliability of all structures.

How does the specialization of the ADU subcontractor affect the final choice?

A very simple dependency works here. If you plan to build a granny flat/guest house to receive more money thanks to rental income generation, and in the portfolio you see that the company specializes in the construction of attached units, then this is not your option. Nevertheless there are universal projects, e.g., prefabricated ADU, which every professional team can implement on the highest level.

What preparatory steps can the property owner take before the final decision on the selection of an ADU contractor?

To make an informed decision on hiring a general contractor, we recommend taking three preparatory steps. In particular, to estimate the project cost of the per square foot in your city, indicate preferences regarding the configuration of the future living space and the estimated timeline that the construction team will have to follow.

What factors will help you pick the ideal candidate among multiple contractors?

If you want to avoid difficulties in communication, shoddy work and loss of money, then be sure to study the portfolio, the availability of awards, and the composition of the work team. Moreover, talk to clients with the experience of interaction with subcontractors, and also visit some blog posts to analyze opinions from the Internet.