Choose the Austin ADU Workstream That Removes the Next Risk

The pages below are organized by owner task rather than by a contractor’s sales funnel. Use them to define an independent brief before comparing providers.

Is the property ready for concept design?

Property feasibility establishes jurisdiction, lot records, dwelling path, usable building area, trees, drainage, access and utility questions. It produces a proceed, revise, investigate or stop decision.

Use it when you have an address and an idea but no reliable site basis.

Which Austin housing path applies?

HOME rules and ADU paths separates the City’s ADU guidance from two-unit, three-unit and small-lot options. It also explains why “accessory” may no longer be the most useful classification for every project.

Use it before assuming a backyard unit is the only or correct way to meet the owner goal.

Are you building a separate backyard home?

Detached ADU construction covers site placement, foundation, heat and moisture control, exterior durability, access and construction logistics for a ground-up dwelling.

Use it when a new structure is likely and the owner needs a preconstruction deliverables list.

Are you converting an existing garage?

Garage conversion ADUs begins with records, structure, slab, water entry, daylight, fire separation and service routes. It compares reuse with selective demolition and replacement.

Use it before treating existing walls as guaranteed savings.

Will the second dwelling connect to the house?

Attached and internal ADUs addresses household separation, circulation, sound, shared systems, additions and occupied-house construction.

Use it for an addition, internal apartment or other connected arrangement.

Who creates and manages the approval package?

Design and permits defines the survey, consultants, drawings, addressing, submission, review comments, permit activation and issued field file.

Use it to compare architecture, permit-management and design-build proposals by their actual deliverables.

What connects the building to the property?

Utilities and site work maps Austin Energy or other power service, water, wastewater, drainage, excavation, trees, access and restoration.

Use it when a building price contains broad allowances or no documented routes.

Should you choose a repeat plan or custom design?

Pre-designed plans versus custom ADUs tests catalog, prefab and custom choices against the lot, household brief, HOME path and remaining design work.

Use it before paying for a plan package or reserving a factory slot.

What belongs in the complete cost?

The Austin ADU cost guide builds an owner forecast from soft costs, site work, construction, utilities, restoration, direct purchases and contingency. It includes a method for leveling several proposals.

Use it whenever a price is presented as a single figure without a scope ledger.

How should the project be scheduled?

The ADU timeline uses property, design, review, commercial, pre-start, field and closeout gates. Each gate has a responsible party and completion evidence.

Use it to replace an unsupported total duration with a schedule that can be updated.

How do you compare Austin builders?

The provider comparison guide covers legal entity, insurance, trade participants, project evidence, allowances, supervision, payments, changes and closeout.

Use it before paying a preconstruction deposit or selecting a contractor from a headline price.

Are you outside Austin city limits?

The service-area hub routes owners to the correct municipal guide. The Williamson County hub compares a group of northern jurisdictions without pretending the County uses one ADU rule.

Use these pages when the mailing city, municipal boundary, ETJ or utility authority is uncertain.

What should a provider receive?

A serious first brief can fit on two or three pages. Include:

• address and jurisdiction if confirmed;
• current property use and buildings;
• proposed number and arrangement of dwellings;
• room, accessibility and privacy goals;
• survey and records held;
• known trees, drainage, utility and access constraints;
• target finish level and complete-project range;
• desired timing and its reason; and
• the next decision you want the provider to deliver.

Attach a dated assumptions register. If a fact is unknown, state that instead of allowing each bidder to invent a different answer.

How should early proposals be read?

Classify each proposal by stage. A feasibility proposal should promise findings and a decision. A design proposal should promise drawings, coordination and review responsibility. A construction proposal should identify a dated plan set, scope, exclusions, allowances, price basis and change process.

Do not compare a feasibility package with a construction contract as though both are “ADU quotes.”