Building an ADU yourself can be fun and quite rewarding. However, there are a lot of tips and tricks you should be aware of before you start the process. That’s why we put together a few essential ADU DIY tips for you to be aware of before you start development.
Set Your Budget Early
The biggest tip we can give you is to set your budget very early on. This involves doing a complete cost estimate workup and determining where you can and cannot save money on your ADU. Doing so allows you to get a good idea of how much money you are going to need to complete the project, as well as prevent you from overspending later on during your ADU development.
Know-How You Will Finance The ADU
With your budget made, it is important to figure out how everything is going to get paid for right from the start. You don’t want to hope you can come up with the money when it comes time. Instead, look into:
- Home equity loans & HELOCs
- Cash-out refinancing
- Peer to peer lending
- Renovation loan
These can help you ensure everything is paid for and your development will be done in a timely manner.
Plan For ADU Appliances
You should have a good idea of what appliances and furniture you will be putting in your ADU long before it is built. In fact, this should be considered in the designing phase.
Since ADUs are so small, in order to preserve space and make the most out of every room, you will need to know what is going to go in that room. Everything will have to fit perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle, making it key that your room is designed to perfectly fit the appliances you want.
Don’t Forget About Permits
Permits are necessary to build your ADU. If you do not acquire them, you could face hefty fines, halts in construction, or even legal action.
Plus, permits aren’t just the way of your city taking your money. They ensure your ADU design is feasible and up to code. If it is not up to code, it could be dangerous and harm the tenants living within it.