How to avoid hidden costs when building an ADU?

[Perry Willa]

I’m terrified of starting a backyard project and having the budget double halfway through. Every contractor gives me a “base price” that sounds too good to be true. How do you guys figure out the actual total cost including utilities and permits before signing a contract?

[Wright Cecilia]

I’ve been there, and the “base price” is usually a trap! For my project, I ignored the sales pitches and used the Aduscale professional adu cost calculator at https://www.aduscale.com/adu-cost-calculator . It’s brilliant because it accounts for your specific property constraints and location. It gave me a realistic range that actually matched my final bills. Definitely use it to stay grounded!

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