ADUs continue to be a popular way to add value to residential homes and residential income properties. When you are looking to invest in
developing an ADU
an architect will be required in order to get your ADU approved through the planning process.
There are many great
ADU plan sites
and we encourage looking through those sites as well to get inspiration, prior to speaking with an architect. While the sites are great, due to the local building codes and engineering requirements you will still need qualified trade professionals to help you through the process.
Questions to consider:
Have you designed an ADU for this city before?
Just like any trade professional an Architect can work in a variety of cities; however, keep in mind that with ADUs each city has been able to interpret the state’s guidance a bit differently. Finding out if they have experience with your given city can give you a better understanding on how they can approach your project as well as the options they could present because they have learned what the city has found to be more favorable.
How many ADUs have you designed?
The ADU concept has been around for some time. Recently in 2019 and going forward the state has encouraged local building departments to approve these structures. As a result of these being newer an architect might not have completed a large volume however asking can give an idea of how familiar they are with the given benefits and code requirements.
What range of square ft of ADUs have you designed?
Asking this question will help you to understand how they have approached the building code, their clients needs/budget, and usage of space. ADUs can be larger in certain municipalities (i.e. 1,000 ft) and smaller in others (i.e. 500 ft). Asking about the range of square footage can give you an idea on how they have approached the concept of an ADU and how they maximize space. For example when you design a studio unit there should be additional focus on storage needs to help your future tenant get the most out of the optimized square footage.
Do you have any general contractors you could recommend?
With this question you are hoping to get 1-3 general contractors that they would refer. Having them recommend one (vs. looking on Google or Yelp...which you can do too) helps you to get a GC who you know has earned the respect of a fellow trade professional which is hard earned with since they are all licensed and need to be incredibly detailed with each other. A referral from an architect should also help you to get a GC who has completed ADUs before giving you the confidence they have the experience to complete your project.
Have your projects come in at budget, below, or over?
ADUs are generally considered to be on the smaller side of development (i.e. bigger than a bathroom remodel, but smaller than a complete home build). While an architect is merely one member of the team to help a project come in at a potential budget they can help with guidance throughout a project that can help maximize each dollar.
When it comes to deciding about an architect for your ADU there are many items to consider. We have worked with a variety of trades and architects over the years and we are happy to share options that could help you with your goals. Call us today at (562) 888-0247 and let us know you’d just like to discuss building an ADU.
