Three Questions to Vet Your ADU Builder
- David Melton
- Nov 4
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are growing in popularity across Atlanta. They provide homeowners and investors a flexible option to create new housing for multigenerational living, rental income, or a dedicated workspace at home. If you’re considering building an ADU in your backyard, your first steps are to determine if it’s feasible and who will build it. Like any construction project, finding the right builder can make or break your ADU project. So how do you know who to trust? Here are three critical questions to ask any prospective ADU contractor:
1. How many ADUs have you built?
Experience matters, especially when it comes to ADUs. These small but complex projects often require unique design solutions, zoning knowledge, and coordination with city officials that differ from a standard home build or renovation. At ATL ADU, we’ve built 21 ADUs to date, with three more breaking ground soon. We complete 6–8 ADU projects per year so we are always in permitting…and we still run into challenges from the City of Atlanta and surrounding municipalities. If it’s a builder's first time quoting, permitting, and building an ADU there will likely be a steep learning curve and broad price range. Our experience gives us confidence in our price, which this client confirmed: “The predictability in cost was huge for us. ATL ADU’s pricing was much more transparent than other builders”.
2. Can you share references?
The single most important thing you can do when vetting a builder is talk to their past clients. Ask what the process was like. Go see their ADU in person if possible. Was the builder organized, communicative, and transparent about costs? Did they finish on schedule? We’re proud to have a growing library of client Q&As, and prouder that many of them are happy to share their experience directly. Some even open their doors so you can tour their ADU in person. That kind of transparency is (surprisingly) rare in this industry, and we believe it’s a critical step toward building trust.
3. What’s included in your scope of work?
This is where most surprises (and stress) happen. Some contractors only handle construction, leaving you responsible for hiring a surveyor, architect, engineer, and a permit expediter if desired. That means more time, coordination, and unexpected costs for you. At ATL ADU, our turnkey process is different. We manage everything - from the first site visit to handing you the keys. That includes surveying, site planning, design, engineering, permitting, project management and construction. By managing the entire process in-house, we keep your project moving efficiently and eliminate the handoff headaches that can stall other builds. As one of our clients put it: “I considered going through the DIY process of finding the architect, bidding the plans and finding the contractor, but ATL ADU rolled all those up into one easy decision.”
Building an ADU is an exciting opportunity to add flexibility, value, and functionality to your property, but just because it’s small doesn’t mean it should be taken lightly. Ask the right questions, do your homework, and partner with a builder who has real experience, verified references, and a clear, comprehensive process. At ATL ADU, we’ve built more ADUs than anyone else in Atlanta. Our mission is to make it easier for homeowners to create thoughtful, high-quality spaces that fit their lifestyle and their neighborhood. Thinking about building an ADU? We’d love to connect!
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