From First Call to Move-In: Here’s Exactly What Happens.
Building an ADU is a big decision, and you shouldn’t have to wonder what comes next. This is our process — refined across 100+ ADUs in the last four years — step by step, with nothing hidden.
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The Five Steps
Free Consultation & Property Evaluation
It starts with a conversation at your property, not a sales pitch. We walk your lot, talk goals — rental income, family space, home office — and assess setbacks, access, utilities, and existing structures. Then we tell you honestly what your lot qualifies for and give you a realistic budget range. If an ADU doesn’t make sense, we’ll tell you that too. Free, 30–45 minutes, zero obligation.
Custom Design & Plans
Our in-house designers develop floor plans around your needs — how you’ll use the space, what matters most, where the budget should go. You review real drawings and request revisions until it feels right. Then our engineers handle structure, foundation, framing, and Title 24 energy compliance — all under the same roof. You approve everything before we talk about breaking ground.
Permits & Approvals, Handled
The step that stops most homeowners cold — and the one you never think about with us. We prepare the complete submittal package, submit it, track it, and respond to plan-check corrections until the permit is issued. Timelines vary by city; we’ll give you a realistic expectation based on your specific city. You don’t fill out paperwork or chase plan checkers.
Construction with Weekly Updates
You’ll know exactly who’s showing up and what’s happening. Our licensed crews do the work — no rotating cast of subcontractors — and you have a single point of contact. Every week brings a progress update with photos. We keep the site clean and secure, coordinate city inspections, and if anything unexpected comes up, you hear it from us first, with a plan attached.
Final Walkthrough & Move-In
Before we call it done, we walk every room together — every outlet, faucet, door, and window tested — and build a punch list of anything that isn’t perfect. Nothing gets signed off until you’re satisfied. Then it’s yours: final sign-off, keys in hand, backed by a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor (CSLB #1138550) building in Southern California since 1995.
A Realistic Timeline
From signed agreement to move-in, most ADU Cities projects run about 4–8 months. Garage conversions are typically fastest because the structure exists; detached new construction takes longer because it’s a full build. Your city’s permit timeline is the biggest variable — and it’s the one no contractor can control, which is exactly why we give you an honest estimate based on your city rather than a guarantee no one can keep.
How Much of Your Time Does It Take?
Less than you’d expect. Your biggest investment is in Step 2 — reviewing designs and making decisions. During permitting and construction, we handle everything; most homeowners spend a few hours a month on their project, not a few hours a week. And no, you almost never need to move out — your ADU is a separate structure, and we sequence work to keep your home livable.
Common Questions
Straight answers before you even call.
What happens if the city requires changes to the plans?
Plan-check corrections are normal on every permitted project, and handling them is included — not billed extra. Because our designers and engineers are in-house, corrections turn around quickly without the delays of going back to an outside architect.
Do I need to move out during construction?
Almost never. Your ADU is a separate structure, so you keep living your life while we build. There will be noisy phases — we’ll warn you before each one so nothing catches you off guard.
How do I know what’s happening during the build?
Weekly progress updates with photos, a single point of contact, and a clean, secure job site. If anything unexpected comes up, you hear it from us first — with a plan attached.
Start With a Conversation.
Every one of our 100+ ADUs started the same way — a free consultation, an honest evaluation, and a homeowner who finally knew exactly what to expect.