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 companies.

Is the site ready for concept design?

The site-check guide confirms the permit office, lot records and housing path. It also covers usable space, trees, drainage, access and utility questions. The result is a choice to proceed, revise, investigate or stop.

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 license type 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 different backyard home?

The detached ADU guide covers the unit’s location, foundation and weather control. It also covers outside materials, access and the work needed to build a new home.

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 current 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 building.

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

Who creates and manages the approval package?

The design and permit guide covers the survey, expert work, plans and new address. It also explains filing, review comments, active permits and the plans used on site.

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

What connects the building to the site?

The utilities and site-work guide maps power, water, sewer and drainage. It also covers digging, trees, access and repairs after the work.

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

Should you choose a repeat plan or custom design?

The plan-choice guide tests catalog, prefab and custom options. It checks each one against the lot, family needs, HOME path and design work that remains.

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 budget. It covers early fees, site work, the build, utilities and later repairs. Add direct purchases and extra money for named risks. The guide also shows how to compare several quotes.

Use it whenever a price is presented as a single figure without a detailed list of work.

How should the project be scheduled?

The ADU timeline uses property, design, review, commercial, pre-start, field and final approval 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 company comparison guide covers the legal business, insurance and trade firms. It also covers proof from past work, allowances, supervision, payments, changes and final approval.

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

Are you outside Austin city limits?

The service-area guide points owners to the right city page. The Williamson County guide compares northern cities. It makes clear that the County does not use one ADU rule.

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

What should a company receive?

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

• address and city or county if confirmed.
• current property use and buildings.
• planned 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.
• the next choice you want the company 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 quotes be read?

Classify each quote by stage. A site-check quote should promise findings and a choice. A design quote should promise plans and review duties. A building quote should name the dated plans and work included. It should list exclusions, allowances, the price basis and the process for changes.

Do not compare a site check package with a building contract as though both are “ADU quotes.”