Want the best ADU builder in Berkeley? Here’s what to look for.
If you own a home in or near Berkeley, CA, your best bet at getting the most out of your property is to build an accessory dwelling unit (sometimes called an ADU, in-law apartment, granny flat, or backyard cottage, among other things). Thanks to changes in the law, it’s recently gotten easier for homeowners to build ADUs which just makes the decision to add one that much smarter.
Building an ADU in the Berkeley area may be easier than it was before, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you want your ADU to bring you as much value as possible, you need the best ADU designer and best ADU builders in Berkeley. Or consider moving forward with your project with an integrated ADU Design-Build team.
How to find the best ADU company in Berkeley
Although we believe that a design-build approach is perfect for accessory dwelling units, and we also have some of the most experienced ADU Designers and ADU Builders in Berkeley, we still advise that you do your research. Start by looking at various companies and see samples of their work. Visit their websites to learn about their process, their team, and view their portfolio of projects. Call them to talk through your goals and ideas and ask any questions you have about your project or about how they work. It is important to find a team that is good at communicating and aligned with your values and ideas.
Look for Technology:
Does the company have tech to keep your accessory dwelling unit project on track?
Online tools that make your project easier? Yes, please. We’re living in the twenty-first century, so there’s no reason not to coordinate everything online. Budgets, contracts, plans, files, communication, invoices, and payments can and should be done electronically. This saves time, is more sustainable, is faster, and allows everyone on the project team to have up-to-date information. New Avenue gives you the tools to do everything, all from your computer through our self-developed project management software platform. Our technology aims to make the ADU design-build process as transparent as possible and takes the stress out of managing the project. All the information for each project is all in one place and everyone has access to everything they need to perform the work on time and on budget. Features our website and application offer:
Research costs from actual projects in your area. We post the actual project costs on our website and have a database of completed projects so ask us if you have a specific project type you are looking for information on.
Stay in touch with your team. Our app offers a message center for your whole project team to communicated. This keeps a record of all conversations and decisions so things don’t get lost in emails, text messages, and other apps. Messaging through our app is easy, secure, and captures all your project information in one place.
Keep all your documents in one place (contracts, drawings, statements, permit applications, invoices, etc.). With all of your project documents saved on our software platform it is easy to find exactly what you are looking for, it make sure the project team has the most recent documents, and it reduces the need for printing and wasting paper (a win for the environment).
Review and pay invoices. Easily track your projects budget, see how much has been paid to date, what invoices are outstanding, and what payments are remaining. Our software makes tracking project financing easy and transparent and takes the stress out of ensuring your project remains on budget. Plus you can make all payments electronically - no need for paper checks.
New Avenue provides a free platform to use as a digital home base for your project. Start a project on our app here.
Look for Experience:
Which ADU builder knows Berkeley the best and has completed the most projects here?
When you’re building a backyard cottage, it’s important to get everything right and plan carefully. Every city has its own ADU codes and regulations, and if your builder gets something wrong, you can end up paying for it. Although Accessory Dwelling Units are small projects, that doesn’t mean they are simple or easy. It is important to find an experienced team of ADU designers and builders to collaborate with you along the way.
New Avenue has worked on over 150 ADU projects in the Berkeley area and many more around California, Oregon, and beyond. We have a team of experienced ADU designers, project managers, and ADU contractors in Berkeley, CA, who are ready to work on your project and make it an inspiring and sustainable accessory dwelling unit. We know what to ask and how to approach projects with the city offices, we are experienced in designing within the zoning limits, and we balance creating beautiful designs with the technical details needed to make high-performance ADUs that work within the Berkeley laws.
Look for Honesty:
Does the company share real budgets for ADU projects like yours? Will they show them to you?
Arming yourself with real data from the outset of your project can help the process go smoothly. Knowing approximate timelines, realistic budgets, and what is or isn’t allowed can make the design and construction process more streamlined and less stressful. At New Avenue we share information from past projects we have completed near you. You can see real budgets of projects and photos of completed ADUs, so you’ll be fully informed going into your ADU project. You can also talk to your ADU design-build team to get an idea of project schedules and estimated costs of other ADU projects we have completed.
Our mission is to both educate people, be transparent with the true cost of projects we have worked on, and set realistic expectations when it comes to process and schedule. We understand that ADUs, although small in size, are still a big commitment. We aim to provide you with the most accurate data and information that we can to help take the stress away and allow you to make all of the important decisions that will affect your project.
Look for a Strong Network:
Which ADU company has the best designers, builders, and project managers?
It takes a team of experts to complete an accessory dwelling unit to high standards. It is important for you to trust the people you are working with and know that they have the resources needed to successfully compelte your project, from design through the final details of construction. New Avenue has talented designers, project managers, and contractors in Berkeley to give our clients every advantage. We also have a network of consultants that are experts in their fields and suppliment our in-house expertise. We know skillful engineers, talented landscape designers, energy analysts, and code consultants. We have arborists, surveyors, plumbers, and electricians that we can call on to help us through the design and construction process so our clients get the best results for high-performance and sustainable ADUs.
It really does take a team to get the best results. We have built our network of designers, builders, and consultants over the course of working on hundreds of ADUs around the Bay Area. They have all successfully completed ADU projects and have been fully vetted to ensure they deliver high-quality work.
To get the best possible return on your accessory dwelling, use the best ADU company.
All over Berkeley and in all the nearby cities, homeowners are building ADUs. They’re adding accessory dwelling units to their homes in Berkeley, Orinda, Albany, and El Cerrito to help ease California’s housing crisis, bring in additional income, or live near loved ones. If you’re looking to get the most out of your home, you’ll need the best accessory dwelling unit company in Berkeley. New Avenue has the knowledge, people, and resources you need to conquer your ADU project and deliver beautiful designs and excellent craftsmanship.
You can talk to a project manager for free. Just tell us when to call and we will answer all your questions and help you start building something beautiful.