How to Build Your Own Dream Small Home with Backyard ADUs

So you have decided you want to build. After potentially months (or longer) doing your own research, considering various design options and builders, looking into red tape, and figuring out finances, suddenly you may feel like the whole process is overwhelming. We hear this time and time again. Luckily, it’s our job to take a lot of that weight off your shoulders and support you in making that small home dream happen.

Curious the process to build with us? Here are the steps to make it happen.

Step 1: Acquire Land

Before you can start building, of course, you are going to need a spot to build. There are many options, including purchasing a raw piece of land that needs clearing, a ready-to-go lot that needs minimal sitework done, or land that already has a primary home on it with the ability to build an ADU in the backyard. All three of these options impact price, but are all valid options. Which option you decide is fully up to you. If you have a piece of land you are considering, reach out to us and we are happy to help you decide whether or not it’s a good fit for building.

Step 2: Order a Feasibility Study

As the name implies, a feasibility study lets you know what you are able to build on your particular lot. A small home advisor will visit your build site and evaluate the property while considering all of your municipality codes, bylaws and restrictions. This includes utilities, setbacks, permits needed, size requirements, and any obstacles that may impact your build. In addition, all the factors reviewed will help develop an estimated cost. Soon after, your small home advisor will deliver the entire report to you, including the budget to achieve the small home you have been hoping for, an estimate that is within 10% of the final pricing.

The cost is $600 to have this report completed and is required before we can start building. It’s yours to keep and use how you choose, whether you decide to move forward in building with us now, in the future, go with another builder or decide not to build at all.

Step 3: Attain Financing

Now that you know the cost, it’s time to find financing. We cover many of the options in a past post HERE. If you are concerned about funding your project, please reach out, as we are happy to point you in the direction of where we have seen others be successful and towards various state and local programs that continue to become available as ADUs grow in popularity.

We are often asked, “When is money due?” so we also have a payment schedule that can help give you an idea to when installments are made throughout the process.

Step 4: Create Your Home Design

Okay, so you now know you can build on your property, how much it will cost and have found a way to pay for it. Now is the fun part! You will work directly with the small home advisor that completed your feasibility study, supported by our on-team architect and engineer, to design all the features and aesthetics of your new home.

We have a series of design path options to choose from but we know you may not want or need the exact same home as your neighbor. From here we are able to make adjustments that take into account your preferences and lifestyle, while making the best use of every square inch so that it is as functional as possible while still meeting your budgeet. This phase will also solidify your guaranteed fixed cost, which means if we go over, we bite the cost, not you!

Step 5: Start the Factory Build & Sitework

Once your design is finalized, the plans are sent to the factory to begin the building process. While your vision is being created in a controlled indoor environment, we will begin the necessary sitework to prepare the property for its arrival. Any trees and rocks that need to be moved will be cleared, preparation for utilities will be completed and the team will excavate and install your insulated, frost-protected foundation.

Set 6: Set Your New Home

It’s the moment you (and we) have been waiting for! Set day! Your home will arrive onsite and in a single day we will set each box onto the foundation. The transformation is incredible to watch as, unlike stick building, one second it’s an empty lot, and the next, your dream home is standing!

Step 7: Finish the Details

Over the next few weeks we will backfill, finish siding and roofing, paint, install appliances and fixtures, and hookup utilities. Landscaping can then begin and any small details that will make your home move in ready.

Step 8: Move in Day!

Here are you keys! Welcome home.

To get started on building your dream home, get in touch with us by emailing info@backyardadus.com or head to our website to message us with any questions you may have.