What are you building costs for ADU's?

[Brad S.]

Hey everyone!

This is mainly for those who have recently built or got contractor/builder quotes for building an ADU. I am curious as to what your are finding the current building costs are?

I am working on putting together a building system to be around $150/sf hard costs for a build. The idea is to systemize the process and be able to offer a good quality product for a lower price than is generally available, and still make a decent profit. And we would start with building ADU's, since that seems readily systemizable and a popular trend with good demand.

So, does $150/sf sound attractive to you if you were in the market to build an ADU? between 800sf-1,200sf

I am mostly looking for California opinions, but all are welcome. TIA

I am also posting this under other categories, so I apologize for the redundancy.

[Joel Forsythe]

@Brad S. I remodeled and built additions in NE LA, Pasadena, surroundings etc, over last 20 years. I've reviewed several modular approaches to ADU installations vs stick built. I would argue $150/sqft is not realistic here. I would also say that having any "system" that doesn't attempt to ascertain complete development costs, falls apart very quickly.

$150 would only be feasible converting existing structure to ADU. The hidden costs with new construction grading, mechanical, and foundations can blow that 150/sqft to 250 and up (hard cost) I dont know if you dug through many of the Western States existing modular companies, but I never saw much below 250/sqft with quality finishes (especially for a community like Pasadena would expect). I know for a fact I couldn't stick build and quality finish a stand alone 800sqft ADU in Pasadena for $150, and if there was a real solution at that price, we'd all be throwing them in and making bank off the markup.