Before you hire
Before You Hire an ADU or Tiny Home Builder
Use TinyHomeNavigator to organize the property, zoning, utility, permit, and scope questions to ask before paying deposits, ordering plans, or choosing a builder.
Why research comes before estimates
Builder estimates can be useful, but they depend on jurisdiction, zoning, access, utilities, foundation or code path, sitework, fire access, septic or well review, and overlays. An early estimate may not include every site-specific cost.
- Know the parcel facts before comparing prices.
- Ask what assumptions the estimate uses.
- Separate design scope, permit scope, construction scope, utility scope, and sitework scope.
- Confirm local department questions before treating any estimate as reliable.
Design
Concept layouts, plan direction, site fit, revisions, and finish assumptions.
Permits
Who prepares submittals, who responds to corrections, and which department reviews.
Engineering
Structural, energy, grading, drainage, foundation, and utility assumptions.
Construction
Site-built work, prefab setting, inspections, site coordination, and change orders.
Utility coordination
Sewer, water, electric, gas, meters, trenching, upgrades, and provider timing.
Project management
Schedule communication, inspection planning, responsibility handoffs, and records.
What homeowners should verify independently
Use builder conversations to learn, but confirm the property basics through official local sources and your own organized notes.
Before paying a deposit
A clear written scope matters. Use this checklist before paying for design, plans, prefab ordering, construction mobilization, or permit work.
- Confirm property address and APN.
- Identify the correct city or county jurisdiction.
- Collect zoning information and official map screenshots.
- Understand the project type: detached ADU, attached ADU, JADU, garage conversion, foundation tiny home, movable tiny home, or manufactured home.
- Ask what sitework is excluded from the estimate.
- Ask what utility upgrades are assumed or excluded.
- Ask whether engineering, permit drawings, corrections, and inspections are included.
- Ask how design revisions and change orders are handled.
- Ask who is responsible for inspection scheduling and correction responses.
- Verify license, insurance, references, contract scope, payment schedule, lien releases, and cancellation terms.
Related guides
Use these guides to compare scope, prepare documents, and understand local verification before builder or seller conversations.
Organize your questions before you hire
Share the property basics and main concern so the next research questions are easier to organize before contacting builders, designers, permit professionals, or local departments.
TinyHomeNavigator provides educational information only. Rules vary by parcel, zoning district, city, county, overlay, utility provider, fire authority, and environmental health department. Always confirm directly with the local planning department, building department, environmental health department, fire authority, and utility providers before buying land, designing, permitting, placing, or building any structure.