Looking for perspective on ADUs. We've got a decent sized lot in the Bellevue area and my in laws may need to be closer to us in a few years.
Looking for perspective on ADUs. We've got a decent sized lot in the Bellevue area and my in laws may need to be closer to us in a few years. Building a small separate unit seems smarter than moving, and I understand the rules have loosened. What I don't know is what these actually cost, how long they take, and whether the permitting is as painful as people say. Anyone here built one recently? I'd also like to understand whether a unit like this affects property taxes or complicates anything at resale down the road, since it's a long term decision for our family.
The rules have opened up considerably, which is why you're seeing more of them go up around the Eastside. Permitting is real work but it's manageable when the builder handles submission rather than you. What drives cost is utilities and site work as much as the structure, so a unit near existing sewer and power lines costs meaningfully less than one at the back of a lot. We used Bellevue’s Premier Remodeling Contractor for ours and the design build approach helped because the plans were drawn with the permit path in mind. Think about aging in place details now, wider doors and a curbless shower. Also ask what the utility connection path looks like early, that estimate shifts the total more than finish selections do.