Garage ADU conversion?

Question

I'm planning to buy a multifamily/single-family home in Vancouver, WA within the next year. I do not have a construction, repair, nor any handyman skills. Some beginner q's:

1. What are tips for hiring contractor to do garage ADU conversion?

2. What are the timelines for start to finish on an existing garage-to-ADU?

3. What should I look out for to avoid getting ripped off?

4. What is your favorite way to finance a garage-ADU conversion?

Brian Larson · Answer

@Susan Tan - Please check out: https://www.buildinganadu.com/These guys are some of the original ADU consultants in the US.  They focus specifically on the Portland, Oregon Area but, if I recall correctly, the website and their book contain some good local knowledge that might be useful across the river in Vancouver, Washington too.

Jeff Copeland · Answer

My first question would be will the zoning for the parcel, density of the surrounding parcels, and other matters allow for an accessory dwelling unit? You may want to confirm that, and get it in writing, from the zoning officials at the municipality before even purchasing the property. Don't just assume that you can.

Your next step would then be an architect. The architectural, building, and fire safety plans would likely have to be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the municipality (a process that can take several months) before a GC can start any work. Many GC's will have an architect they recommend or prefer to work with.

Again, before you spend thousands on an architect, or a GC, talk to the municipality (for free) and confirm it's even possible. Just because a parcel is zoned multifamily or whatever does not always mean they'll actually let you build an ADU or multifamily on it. There are a lot of factors that go into that decision.