INVEST · A PRACTICAL GUIDE
Before the drawings, check the property.
You may already own the home. The next question is whether the ADU you have in mind fits the site, the requirements and the way you want to use it.
Give the idea a specific job.
Are you creating space for family, planning a rental or keeping options open for later? Describe who will use the space and how it needs to function. That gives a designer something more useful than a floor plan found online.
Also decide what you're willing to change about the existing property. Construction access, outdoor space and the relationship between the buildings deserve a conversation before you become attached to a particular design. A plan that looks good on paper still has to work with the home around it.
Confirm the agency and the existing records.
Start with the address and parcel, then identify the agency responsible for approvals. Collect available plans and permit records for existing structures. California's ADU handbook explains the broader framework, but property-specific questions belong with the local agency and project professionals.
A Santa Maria city resource may not answer a question about an Orcutt parcel, and a county resource may not apply inside a different city. We help keep those conversations organized so advice isn't carried from one jurisdiction to another without checking.
Look at the site before treating a price as complete.
Ask the design and construction professionals to assess access, existing utilities, drainage and the proposed location. Identify what needs measurement, a record search or specialist input. Keep those findings alongside the layout rather than treating them as details to solve after pricing.
Use a short decision log: question, person responsible, answer received and next action. For example, 'Can the proposed utility arrangement work?' should lead to a named professional and a documented answer. It shouldn't stay a vague assumption buried in a budget.
Choose the next stage with the unknowns visible.
A feasibility conversation can lead to further investigation, a revised plan or a decision to stop. All three can be useful outcomes. Ask what information is needed before paying for the next stage and what would cause the scope to change.
Our role is to coordinate the property and project conversations from the initial idea onward. You make the key decisions; the relevant professionals handle their assessments and approvals. Bring the address, a rough description of the space and your intended use. That's enough to begin organizing the work.
A useful next step.
Planning an ADU Project Budget on the Central Coast →
Buying with renovation or ADU plans →
Nipomo Real Estate: Homes, Sales & Investment Planning →
Published October 18, 2026. Local resources can change; check current requirements for your property with the relevant agency or professional.