6 Mistakes You Can Make With Your ADU Build (and How to Avoid Them)

6 Mistakes You Can Make With Your ADU Build (and How to Avoid Them)

Did you know that in Vancouver, Canada more than 2,000 ADUs have been built citywide in the past decade? If you are looking into building an ADU for your in-laws, for rental, or for guests, there are several mistakes that you want to avoid. Keep reading to learn what these top mistakes are to help you avoid ADU build mistakes you move forward building your ADU.

  1. Your Team

Not using the right team for your ADU build is a big mistake that you want to avoid ADU build mistakes at all costs. A home is one of the biggest financial investments we will probably make in our lifetime which is why it is important to hire someone that has the experience and will do a great quality job.

If you do not hire the right team from the start you can end up frustrated and you might end up spending more money as well. The right team will be aware of legalities such as https://actonadu.com/blog/california-adu-law-changes-2020. Having a team that understands the laws is a must to avoid ADU build mistakes having to tear anything down in the future.

Instead of only choosing a builder based on cost, look into other factors as well. Contact any referrals they give you and see if those previous customers are truly satisfied. Go out in person to see previous work to ensure that they are a good fit for your needs and taste.

Take the time to get at least three different construction bids before you select a contractor.

  1. Speak Up

If you do not speak up and advocate for yourself you will have a situation where you can end up frustrated. Whenever you have any concerns do not stay quiet instead let them know what is on your mind. Even if you feel a bit intimidated asking questions or voicing your opinion, remember that you are the one that has to live with the end result.

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If anything does not feel or look right never stay quiet!

  1. HVAC Too Small

Another mistake that you want to avoid is installing an HVAC unit that is too small. Heating and cooling down the home is very important for comfortable living and if your unit is not big enough to get the job done it will become very frustrating in the long term.

It will also cost you more money later on because the unit will have to run for longer periods of time and it will increase your bills and lessen the life of the unit. More than likely, overworking a unit means that you will have to replace it sooner than usual.

  1. Change Order Agreements

Before you sign any paperwork with a contractor for the ADU build you want to have a change order agreement in writing. This means that there has to be a contract signed and approved for a change order every time a change has to be made. The contract has to specify the requirements, the cost, the time it will take, and the material needed.

If you do not have a change order agreement in place, then the contractor can make any changes they want without consulting you first. This can end up costing you a lot of money in the end because the contractor is at liberty of making changes without your consent.

  1. Space Optimization

An ADU is a lot smaller than a residential home. This means that you want to make sure that all of the space is utilized to the max. You can opt to increase the ceiling height in order to make the space feel a lot bigger and spacious than it really is.

You can also consider adding more bedrooms if you are planning on using the ADU unit as rental income. With more bedrooms, you can charge more money. Also, if you decide to sell your home in the future, having an ADU with more bedrooms will also increase the value of your property.

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Optimize the space to get the most amount of natural light and airflow. Natural light always makes any home feel more spacious and this is especially important with a tiny home like an ADU. Opt to add skylights and large windows or sliding doors instead of tiny windows.

If the ADU is being built from scratch you can orient it to take advantage of cool breezes in the evenings to help lower down cooling costs during the summer.

  1. Goals and Budget

Defining your goals and budget at the beginning of the construction and design process is very important to stay on track. If you do not do this you will get upsold and you will struggle with making any decisions.

Keep in mind that when it comes to construction it is always a good rule of thumb to have an extra 10% put aside because you want to be prepared for anything unexpected that might come up.

Ready for Your ADU Build?

Now that you have the top list that you want to avoid ADU build mistakes and you can get to work and have your ADU up and running before you know it. If you do not have any experience in construction or design please do not try to tackle this monumental task on your own. Take the time to contact professional architects and engineers to help you build the ADU of your dreams.

Did this blog post help you out today? Please keep browsing the rest of this section for some more helpful reads.

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