After her begetter died in 2024, genuine asset delegate Shalini Karnani Bonjour moved her mother from Michigan to California to be nearer to her and her family.
"My hubby and I didn't awareness comfortable having her so far away, particularly whenever it came to her day-to-day needs," Bonjour, 50, told Business Insider.
Later that year, the family bought a residence alongside a backyard ample adequate to build an accessory dwelling unit for her mother. In 2025, they bankrupt dirt on a 1,100-square-foot ADU. But what was expected to be a six-week project has dragged on for months and disbursal the family thousands additional than expected.
"The entire procedure has been difficult since there are so many things to manage," Bonjour said. "You're trying to keep the project affordable, keep your neighbors happy, and remain on track. I can lone ideate how overwhelming this would awareness for person without any understanding into the process, since it is a huge undertaking."
Here are five difficult lessons Bonjour has learned from the project, from choosing the correct contractor to budgeting adequate prosperity for unexpected challenges.
A bad contractor can create or interrupt a project
At first, Bonjour idea she had established the correct decorator for the project. They designed the ADU and equal promised to guide her through the permitting and building process. But they didn't prosecute through.
Bonjour stated hiring the incorrect individual was among the "biggest mistakes" she's made during the project.
Although she established person to obtain complete the project following interviewing concerning 10 builders, mistakes made by the first decorator have made building additional difficult.
"Watching my builder try to translate that first designer's plans is akin trying to fit a quadrate peg into a circular hole," she said. "It's basically akin he was operating off person else's recipe."
Understanding local permitting and building rules is essential
Every city has its own rules for construction ADUs, and several are additional complex than others.
In her part of the Coachella Valley, Bonjour had to safe permits for the roof, electric work, plumbing, HVAC, and sun-related panel installation.
"The city was beautiful durable on solar," Bonjour said. "The archetypal two electric inspections were fine, and afterward on the third inspection, they resolute we needed sun-related panels. Getting sun-related current in the wilderness is its own job. Researching the appropriate sun-related companies and their packages was another."
Building a residence can test relationships
While the family waits for the ADU to be finished, Bonjour, her husband, their son, and her mother are all living in the chief house. It's been difficult sharing space, particularly the kitchen.
"My mom loves to cook, so having her own galley volition be really crucial to her," she said. "She was making a formula and said, "It'll be distinct whenever I have my own stuff." I think the entire item is bittersweet, but formerly she sees her completed kitchen, she'll awareness different."
Construction has caused headaches for the cul-de-sac, too. Because the neighborhood's electric transformer is outdated and overloaded, the local usefulness needs to upgrade it before the ADU can be connected. The activity has engaged digging up Bonjour's driveway and those of two neighbors.
"Our neighbors had to agreement alongside the inconvenience of their driveways being out for a week and a half," she said. "My contractor and I are trying to be as considerate as we can and get the finest group to do the activity as quickly as possible. Thankfully, the neighbors have been gracious and nice alongside the way."
You have to observe out alongside your budget
Bonjour's family budgeted $480,000 for the building of the ADU. Of that total, they set apart $100,000 as a contingency fund.
"As a realtor, and as person who's continually telling group to ask all the questions, I additionally dislike to be caught by surprise," Bonjour said. "With the contingency budget, you build in additional prosperity that you anticipation you won't need. It's item everyone should consider, whether they're construction a million-dollar residence or a small casita in the backyard."
Unfortunately, unexpected costs, akin hiring replacement contractors and installing a new electric panel and sun-related panels, have exhausted the reserve. Bonjour stated the additional expenses have trickled into the family's day-to-day life, making it harder to validate things akin family trips and upgrading the chief home.
"I desire I had allocated it differently, but again, I think that preparedness alongside the correct group at the onset would have saved so much headache and time," she said. "We'll have to delay on upgrading the home. That's benevolent of annoying, but that's anywhere we're at. Lesson learned on that one."
Give yourself grace; it's all a learning process
If she had to do it all complete again, Bonjour says she would create distinct decisions.
"I'm a professional, so I clasp myself to a higher norm of asking questions and being informed," she said. "I akin to have fine relationships alongside the builders, contractors, and vendors. In several ways, I awareness akin I should have known or seen what was going wrong, and that becomes really difficult to benevolent of wrestle with."
She motionless tries to provision herself grace. For all its challenges, she believes construction the ADU has been the correct decision.
"We cognize that having Mom in proximity is correct for our family," she added. "We've learned several lessons alongside the way as homeowners, as a realtor, as a child, as a mom who's expanding old herself."
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Alcynna Lloyd is a genuine asset newsman alongside Business Insider. She writes concerning homebuying behavior, small homes, multi-generational housing, immigration trends, and accommodation affordability.Prior to joining Business Insider, Lloyd was the Digital Media Manager at HousingWire.Do you have feedback or a tip? Find her on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, or email [email protected].
