Summary
One of the most common mistakes in ADU projects? Designing first, then finding out the build cost doesn’t match the budget. In this post, we provide an insight into how involving your builder early helps you stay on budget, avoid costly surprises, and keep full ownership of your ADU plans.
When homeowners start planning their ADU, one of the first big decisions they face is: who do I work with first?
It’s completely natural to get excited about the design. After all, you’re picturing how you’ll use the space, how the rooms will flow, where the kitchen will go, how much light you’ll get. That’s the fun part. So for many people, the first instinct is to call up an architect or designer and start drawing up plans.
The challenge is that once those plans are done and you bring a builder into the process, that’s often when unexpected pricing surprises show up. The beautiful design might work perfectly on paper, but the construction costs tied to those design choices can sometimes push the project far outside the original budget.
And that’s not because anyone made a mistake. Designers focus on layout, style, and function, while builders are the ones pricing out the real-world cost of actually constructing it all.
The Two Common Paths Most Homeowners Take
When people start thinking about building an ADU, they usually approach it one of two ways. Each has its pros and cons depending on how much experience you’ve had with construction projects.
1️⃣ Hiring a Designer or Architect First
For many homeowners, starting with a designer feels like the natural first step. You’re excited about the space and want to see your vision on paper. You want to have input on the layout, finishes, and flow before thinking about the technical side of things. In many ways, that’s completely understandable because it’s where your ADU starts to feel real.
The problem is that without someone on the design team who’s also tracking the construction costs behind those design choices, it’s very easy to run into budget surprises later. You might design a beautiful vaulted ceiling, a bump-out for extra living space, or larger bathrooms, but each of those features has cost implications that aren’t always factored in during design.
Designers typically focus on how the space will function and look, which is absolutely important. But they aren’t pricing out the real-world cost of structural engineering, foundation work, framing complexity, soil reports, utility connections, or city permit requirements while they’re drawing. Those are the exact areas where costs can quickly snowball.
I’ve worked with clients who brought me gorgeous finished plans that were unfortunately $100,000 or more over what they originally hoped to spend. This wasn’t because anyone made a bad decision, but simply because nobody was watching the budget while those design decisions were being made.
2️⃣ Hire a Full Design-Build Firm
On the other side, some homeowners go straight to a full-service design-build company where the same company handles both the design and the construction process under one roof.
There are definite advantages to this model. You get better coordination between design and cost since both teams are in-house and working together from the start. Often, design-build firms can move projects forward more efficiently because everyone’s on the same page.
But here’s the part many homeowners don’t realize until later: in many traditional design-build contracts, the builder owns the design plans. That means if, for any reason, you decide not to build with that company, you may not be allowed to take your plans elsewhere without paying extra fees or starting over entirely.
In some cases, the design plans are essentially tied to the builder’s contract. You can feel locked in before you even see your final construction number. For many homeowners, that can feel like losing flexibility and control over who ultimately builds their ADU.
The Builders Now Approach: The Best of Both Worlds
This is exactly the gap we’re solving for at Builders Now. Over the years, I’ve seen where both of those typical paths fall short, and we’ve built our process specifically to give homeowners the advantages of both, without the major downsides.
1️⃣ We Start With a Separate Design Contract
When you work with us, we don’t bundle design and construction into one big contract that locks you in. Instead, we begin with a standalone design contract. This allows you to move forward with your design work and permitting without forcing you into a full construction agreement upfront.
Our main goal is always to be the builder for your project, but you should feel confident and fully informed before making that final commitment.
As I often tell clients: “We’re going to get you through permitting. We want to build this, that’s our main goal. But you’re not locked into using us as your builder if you don’t want to.”
2️⃣ We’re Involved in the Design Process Early, Actively Tracking Costs
The biggest advantage of our process is that we are involved from the very beginning of design. As your design evolves, we work alongside the designer to keep a close eye on real-world construction costs.
Every time you’re considering a design feature like adding square footage, changing rooflines, adjusting layouts, we’re running the numbers right away. This means you’re making design decisions fully aware of how they affect your budget, long before plans are finalized or permits are submitted.
3️⃣ We Bring in Trusted Designers, While Keeping Cost Control in the Process
Unlike many fully in-house design-build firms, we work with trusted, experienced designers, but under our management and process. This allows us to pair creative design with practical, real-time construction knowledge.
By subcontracting designers directly into our system, we ensure:
- Homeowners get professional design guidance
- Builders Now stays involved in pricing decisions
- You maintain ownership and flexibility with your plans
✅ High-Touch, Start-to-Finish Guidance: You’re Never On Your Own
One of the things homeowners appreciate most about working with Builders Now is how hands-on we are from start to finish. Our team stays involved with you through every stage of your project, from your first design consultation all the way to your final walkthrough.
We know how overwhelming construction projects can feel. That’s why we don’t just hand you a set of plans and send you off. Instead, we hold your hand throughout the process, guiding you through:
- Early budget planning and cost analysis
- City permitting and regulatory requirements
- Design adjustments to avoid costly surprises
- Contractor coordination and construction schedules
- On-site inspections and progress updates
- Final quality checks and walkthroughs before completion
At every step, we’re your advocate and your partner, helping you navigate the details and decisions with confidence. Our high-touch process is built to minimize stress, keep surprises to a minimum, and ensure your ADU project stays on track.
The Perks of Builders Now’s Flexible Approach
At the end of the day, this flexible approach is about helping homeowners feel more confident and in control as we move through the design and build process.
- You’re making design choices with real cost information. No guessing games or surprises later.
- You avoid expensive redesigns because we’re keeping the design and budget in sync.
- You always own your plans, so you’re never locked into anything.
- You get builder input early, so we can spot potential cost drivers before they become bigger issues.
- You’re fully supported from start to finish through our high-touch, hands-on process that keeps you informed and confident every step of the way.
For most homeowners, having both creative freedom and builder guidance early on takes a lot of the stress out of the process. That’s exactly what we aim for: helping you build smarter, with fewer surprises along the way.
Build Smarter, With More Confidence
If you’re just starting to explore your ADU project, this early stage is where we can save you the most time, money, and stress.
At Builders Now, my goal is simple: give you professional guidance from day one, help you design something you love that also fits your budget, and make sure you stay in control of your project every step of the way.
👉 Schedule a free ADU consult with Builders Now