Here Is How To Do An ADU Cost Breakdown

Constructing an ADU is a big project with some pretty major costs associated with it. You are pretty much building a whole new house, just on a smaller scale. That is why we put together a quick guide to help you do an ADU cost breakdown before you get started.

Why You Should Do An ADU Cost Breakdown

One of the biggest ADU mistakes you can make is not setting a budget for your project. A budget allows you to see how much everything is going to cost and where you can save yourself money. It also helps keep you from overspending.

Start With What Type Of ADU You Want

The type of ADU you build will significantly impact the prices associated with doing so. So, it is important to establish early on which type of ADU you plan to build before beginning your ADU cost breakdown.

Design And Planning

The first part of your ADU cost breakdown is the design and planning stage. The more detail and complexity you put into your designs, the more this phase will cost. This phase includes costs like:

• Land surveys
• Engineer calculations
• Energy calculations
• Architectural drawings

Pretty much whatever it takes to have a solid plan of action to build your ADU.

City Fees

There is not much you can do to lower your city fees besides move to a different city. These are the costs associated with obtaining the necessary permits to start your ADU development.

Construction Labor And Material

Quite a bit goes into construction labor and material. For starters, the contractor you hire and their prices will greatly impact this section. Along with where you purchase your materials from.

If you are lucky, you may find a contractor that has a deal with local suppliers to get you a good deal on your materials.

Finish Materials

Finish materials include things like:

• Cabinetry
• Doors
• Flooring
• Stone
• Tile
• Windows

How much money you allocate to this section is completely up to you. These materials can get quite expensive quickly if you have specific design tastes. It can also be rather affordable if you just go for the simpler options. It is completely up to you.