All Forum Posts by: Paul Dashevsky

@Shannon Burton I have some suggestions too...happy to help if you want to DM me.

@David Macias One idea is to ask any local contacts in the area that you know (realtors, other trades like plumbers, electricians, etc.) for recommendations. Some of the best contractors never advertise which makes them hard to find. 

As far as vetting, we use a 10-point system when vetting contractors to look for any red flags: check contractors state licensing board, get copy of GL & WC insurance certs, call their insurance agent, call references, check online reviews, interview the owner/manager, run background check, etc.

@Kimberly S.

@Vinay C.

I may be able to help with some Los Angeles contractor recommendations if you want to DM me.

@Leigha Barr  I may be able to share with you some good potential general contractors in Los Angeles. I also have some good subs.

@Bruce P. I have a good resource document that was written by a construction attorney which speaks to best practices for a renovation/construction contract for an ADU or any remodel. Please DM me for a copy.

Hey Charles-

I started my company specifically to deal with these kind of issues.  I have a bunch of resources on best practices for finding/hiring great contractors...I'm happy to share these with you if you want to DM me. 

1. Check their reviews online. Read any negative reviews and determine how bad their behavior seems to you, and feel free to ask the contractor to explain their bad reviews. A significant number of bad reviews (especially in the last 2 years) clearly indicate a pattern and you should think twice about hiring this company.
2. Do a contractor license lookup online. In California, you should navigate to https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx. Here, you can confirm the company you’re considering has an active license, check company owner names, see if they have any infractions on their license, and determine how long the company has been licensed.
3. Get a copy of their insurance certificate and call their insurance broker. Ask whether they have had any insurance claims in the recent past.
4. Call at least 3 references and take a look at pictures of their prior work. If you have the chance to visit one of his past jobs and see the renovation in person, even better!
5. Interview the owner (or at least the Project Manager who will be your day-to-day contact during the project). Especially common with larger contractors, the person at your first meeting is often just a salesperson, probably one of several on their staff.

The expert I know on ADU financing is Meredith Stowers at Loan Depot

@Derrick Dill The issue our clients have noticed with pre-fab ADUs (and there are some really cool ones out there or coming soon)...is that there are significant costs that aren't included in the price of the unit.  Delivery, Craning and Installation may or may not be included in the price. More importantly, all the site work is not included and they expect the homeowner to pay a local contractor for this work...demo/clearing, trenching, foundation, site utility connections, permits, patios, landscaping, fencing, etc.  Our clients are needing to budget $20-50k for this work in addition to the price of the pre-fab unit. 

@Aaron Pfeffer I'd love some referrals to quality GC's (licensed & insured) that are building for $150/sf if you don't mind sharing. Thx!