Design Process: Additional Services
We have outlined the general phases of the design process in earlier posts. However, there often are other services that we offer to make your project easier to achieve. None of these are required to get an ADU designed, permitted, and built, but some can make your project a greater success or take some work off your plate so you can focus on other things. Additional services for ADUs or Custom Homes allow us to customize the service offerings to the unique needs of each client and each project.
Property Search and analysis (Feasibility Study)
You are looking into buying a new home and want to know what the potential is to add an ADU as a rental unit. Or perhaps you want to analyze your current property to better understand the opportunities and challenges for adding an accessory dwelling unit or other property improvement project - like a major addition, remodel, or even a new custom home design. It is also a great idea to do a feasibility study when considering purchasing of a piece of land. If you are considering any of these options a feasibility study is highly recommended as the first step. Whether you hire us or engage another design team, it is worth investing in this preliminary research before you commit to a larger project or before you close on a property purchase. Zoning research, site analysis, property review, and other research is can save significant money or prevent you from beginning a project before knowing exactly what is allowed. Whether you are considering an ADU, a major remodel, or a custom home design, this is a valuable service that is worth the upfront investment.
Interior Design
Some clients love shopping for materials, finishes, appliances, and picking out colors and other interior elements for their homes and ADUs. Others don’t have the time and want someone to assist with this process. Since most interior finish selections don’t affect the permitting process this service isn’t necessary to get a custom home or ADU approved to build, but it can make a big difference for the look and feel of your project. An interior design that matches the aesthetics of the exterior and creates a welcoming environment can make or break your project. And interior design is especially important if you are planning to rent out the ADU as a long or short term rental. You want durable materials and finishes as well as a noteworthy, photogenic design that will set your rental apart from the competition. This service can include selecting all of the finishes like tile, counters, cabinets, fixtures, and hardware or can include additional tasks like helping select furniture, artwork, and other decorations to bring the space together and feel warm and inviting. Custom home and ADU Interior Design can take a great deal of time and effort but can have a great return on investment. This is why we recommend that our clients hire a professional designer to assist with this work. Typically we like to work with you to at least select all of the materials, finishes, and fixtures that will be attached to the structure which is why we offer interior design as an additional service for our ADU and custom residential clients.
Existing Conditions Drawings (As-Builts)
Most of the projects we work on are detached new construction ADUs or custom residences. However, when an ADU interacts with an existing structure on your property it is necessary to document the existing conditions. Often these are called as-built drawings, and include creating dimensioned drawings of all the existing spaces and structures that will be affected by the project. Most designers will offer this service or sub-contract it out to another drafting company. It is worth the investment to get an accurate drawing set that shows the current conditions of your home before you start any project.
Renderings
Three dimensional views of the project are another part of the design process that isn’t necessary for the permit approval process but can be a great tool to make design decisions. Taking these views a step further, you can use modeling and drawing software to create rendered views that show materials, finishes, lighting, furniture, people and other effects to really show what the spaces will look and feel like. We often do a couple exterior and a couple interior renderings so our clients can see an approximation of what their project will look like after it is finished. This allows them to have the confidence they will like the final design prior to starting construction. Good renderings do take time and thus cost money, but we always find it is worth spending a bit of extra effort during the design phase to prevent changes or worse, regrets, once construction begins. A couple thousand dollars during design can save tens of thousands during construction. If you are unsure about what your project will look like or how the interior spaces will feel by looking only at plans, sections, and elevations, ask your design team to make some renderings. It is an added service but can give you a better sense of the final project plus are great to share with friends and family so they can see what you are planning!
Physical Models
These are pretty rare these days as most firms have moved to digital drafting and 3D visualization software. However, some clients think better when seeing a physical model of their new home or ADU. We have built a few models for clients and they can be a valuable tool to help make design decisions. They can be time consuming if you are looking for a lot of detail. Simple massing models, or chipboard diagrammatic models can be quick and cheap, but detailed wood models can be very time consuming and could add significant cost to the design process. Still, like with the renderings, it is still cheaper to invest in the design process than try to make changes once construction begins. It is better to be sure about the design direction and sometimes physical models are the best way to think through a design challenge or capitalize on an opportunity.