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How we build your ADU, from lot check to move-in
One team handles each stage. You know what is happening, what you need to decide and what comes next.
- Lot checkWe read your zoning, the size cap, transit distance, flood maps and any historic district.
- Site visitWe measure the house, yard and any outbuilding, and look at the panel, water, sewer and access.
- Design and quoteA plan sized to the rules, and a written, itemized price.
- Survey and engineeringSite survey, structural work and energy code documents.
- PermitsWe file, answer review comments and handle any board or commission step.
- ConstructionFoundation or interior demolition, framing, utilities, insulation and finishes.
- InspectionsWe book each inspection and fix anything the inspector flags.
- OccupancyFinal inspection and the certificate of occupancy.
How long does approval take?
It varies by community. In towns covered by the state law, a protected-use ADU does not need a special permit, which removes a hearing from the schedule. In Boston, a project that fits the interior ADU path moves faster than one that needs the Zoning Board of Appeal. A complete first submittal is the best way to avoid extra review rounds.
When do I get a price?
After the site visit and design, and before construction. The quote is written and itemized, so you can see what the foundation, utilities, structure and finishes each cost. If we find something during the lot check or visit that changes the picture, such as an undersized electrical service, we tell you then.
What should I have ready?
- Your address, plus any plot plan or survey you already have.
- Past permits for the house, garage or basement, if you know of them.
- How you plan to use the unit: a parent, an adult child, a long-term tenant or an office.
- A budget range, so we design to it from the start.
Do you build in winter?
Interior work continues year-round. Foundations and exterior work can be planned around frozen ground and storms, which is one reason we schedule site work early in the season when we can.
How long will my whole project take?
It depends on the type, the town, any board review and the season. An interior unit in a by-right town is usually the most direct. A detached cottage in Boston that needs zoning relief has the most steps. We give you a schedule for your specific project with the quote.
Start with step one
The lot check is first. Send your address to begin.