ADU site walk checklist
ADU Site Walk Checklist for San Fernando Valley Homes
A simple checklist for homeowners preparing for an ADU site walk in the SFV.
Prepare with photos and basic property information
A useful ADU site walk starts before the contractor arrives. Homeowners should take clear photos of the front of the house, driveway, side gates, side yards, backyard, garage interior, garage exterior, electrical panel, gas meter, water service, visible cleanouts, patios, retaining walls, large trees, overhead lines, and any area where the ADU might sit. Old plans, surveys, permit records, sewer repair notes, electrical upgrade information, roof records, or photos from previous construction can also help. You do not need perfect documentation to begin, but the more the builder can understand about the property, the faster the conversation can move from general ADU ideas to the specific questions that matter for your lot. This preparation also helps the homeowner ask better questions. Instead of starting with a vague request for an ADU estimate, you can point to the garage, the side yard, the main panel, the cleanout, or the part of the backyard where the unit might go. That makes the visit more useful for everyone.
Walk the access path like construction will actually happen there
Access is one of the most important parts of an ADU site walk because workers, materials, equipment, debris, inspections, and cleanup all have to move through the property. A narrow side yard, low roof overhang, gate, step, retaining wall, pool, patio, tree, air-conditioning unit, or finished walkway can affect the scope. This matters for detached ADUs, garage conversions, junior ADUs, and additions because construction needs room to happen without making the property unusable. BBC ADU looks at how trades would reach the work area, where materials could be staged, what surfaces need protection, and whether the project requires a more careful plan for demolition, trenching, framing, or finish deliveries. A builder should be able to explain how access affects the project. If materials have to come through a tight gate, across finished concrete, or around a pool, that can influence labor, protection, schedule, and cleanup. These are not small details on a real jobsite. They are part of how the ADU gets built.
Review utilities, cleanouts, drainage, and rough plumbing early
The ADU site walk should include the main electrical panel, gas meter, water service, sewer cleanouts, possible trench routes, drainage conditions, and the likely locations for the kitchen and bathroom. These details can shape the ADU layout, budget, and schedule before any finish decisions are made. A detached ADU may need longer utility runs from the main house to the backyard. A garage conversion may need slab cuts, wall openings, venting, and a practical bathroom location. BBC ADU pays close attention to this part of the visit because the company's plumbing background helps identify utility and rough plumbing questions that should be discussed before drawings and pricing move too far. Homeowners do not need to know the technical answer to every utility question. They only need to make those locations part of the conversation. The builder can then explain what needs to be verified and how utility routes might affect a detached ADU, garage conversion, junior ADU, or addition.
Talk through how the ADU will be used every day
The site walk should also cover the human side of the project. Tell the builder whether the ADU is for parents, adult children, rental income, guests, work, a caregiver, or long-term flexibility. That answer affects privacy, storage, kitchen size, bathroom layout, laundry, lighting, windows, finishes, outdoor access, and how close the unit should feel to the main house. A homeowner who wants a private rental unit may need a different entrance and utility plan than a homeowner building a family suite. A garage conversion for a parent may need a different bathroom and storage approach than a compact office or guest space. Good construction planning starts with how the space will be used. This is also the time to talk about comfort. Where will the occupant enter? How much privacy do they need? Will they cook daily? Do they need laundry? Should the unit feel connected to the family or separate from the main house? Those answers help the builder think beyond walls and fixtures.
Leave the site walk with clear next steps
A good ADU site walk should leave the homeowner with a clearer understanding of the likely ADU type, visible constraints, unanswered questions, and next steps. That may mean drawings, permit research, utility review, budget discussion, garage evaluation, site measurements, or a more detailed scope conversation. The visit does not need to answer every question, and honest uncertainty is better than a quick promise that ignores the property. BBC ADU uses the site walk to connect the homeowner's goals with the real conditions on the ground so the next step feels grounded: what can be built, what needs to be verified, and which decisions will matter most before construction begins. The best outcome is clarity. The homeowner should come away knowing whether the property looks promising, which ADU paths are worth comparing, what information is missing, and what the next conversation should cover. That is the difference between a productive site walk and a quick visit that leaves the same questions unanswered.
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