5 Common ADU Construction Delays and How to Avoid Them

Building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) can be an exciting project, but unexpected delays can turn your dream into a frustrating experience. At Otto ADU, we've spent years perfecting our process to ensure smooth, efficient ADU construction. In this post, we'll explore five common causes of ADU construction delays and share our expert tips on how to avoid them.

1. Poor Staging of the Permitting Process

One of the biggest culprits in ADU construction delays is mismanaging the permitting process. Many inexperienced builders don't understand the correct order of operations or fail to pursue simultaneous reviews when appropriate.

How Otto Avoids This:

Over the past four years, we've meticulously tracked the permitting processes of 12 cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles. This intimate knowledge allows us to navigate the bureaucratic maze efficiently, ensuring your project stays on track from day one.

2. Changing Design During the Permitting Process

It might seem harmless to tweak your window placement or adjust a room's dimensions once the permitting process has begun. However, even minor changes can cause significant delays, as they require rework by the structural engineer, architect, and permitter.

How Otto Avoids This:

We've developed our signature design process to ensure all your decisions are incorporated before we submit for permits. We spend more time than anyone else on this initial upfront planning — saving significant time and costly revisions down the line.

3. Late Selection of Finishes

Waiting until the last minute to choose finishes like tiles, countertops, or fixtures can throw off your entire construction timeline. Coordination issues and long lead times can cause cascading delays that impact multiple teams.

How Otto Avoids This:

We guide our clients through finish selections early in the process, ensuring materials are ordered and on-site when needed. This proactive approach keeps your project moving smoothly and prevents last-minute scrambles or settling for sub-par, but in stock, finishes.

4. Not Building to Code

Many home remodelers and general contractors lack familiarity with the specific codes involved in ADU construction. Building mistakes that don't meet code requirements waste time when they need to be redone.

How Otto Avoids This:

We only build ADUs. Our team is well-versed in ADU-specific building codes. We ensure every aspect of your project meets or exceeds requirements, preventing time-consuming corrections and failed inspections.

5. Mismanaging Utility Coordination

Utilities can be even slower and more challenging to communicate with than planning departments. Inexperienced ADU builders often don't know how to engage utilities at the right time, leading to frustrating delays.

How Otto Avoids This:

We've developed strong relationships with local utility companies and understand their processes inside and out. Our team knows exactly when and how to engage utilities to keep your project moving forward.

Bonus Tip: Visualizing Your Space

While not strictly a "delay," failing to understand how your ADU will feel and flow before it's built can lead to disappointment and wasted effort. Many 2D plans don't translate well to real-world spaces. Utilize the expertise of an architect to make sure that the layout flows efficiently and matches how you intend to use it.

How Otto Helps:

Our experienced team guides you through the design process, helping you visualize your future space. We ensure the final result matches your needs and expectations, preventing costly post-construction changes.

Preparation is Key

At Otto ADU, we've invested over 1,000 hours in developing our own internal project management tool. This custom software helps us keep every project organized and on track, even with our vast experience.

We've also created a customer interface that allows you to see exactly where your project stands in real-time. This transparency keeps you informed and engaged throughout the process, without the stress of managing the details yourself.

Conclusion

Avoiding delays in ADU construction requires experience, foresight, and meticulous planning. By partnering with Otto ADU, you benefit from our years of expertise and purpose-built systems designed to deliver your ADU on time and to your exact specifications.

Ready to start your ADU journey with a team that knows how to avoid common pitfalls? Contact Otto ADU today for a consultation, and let us show you how smooth and efficient ADU construction can be.