Who Is Responsible for What in a New Home or Property Build?
Map new-build responsibilities in writing before treating the project as one settled scope. Identify who supplies design, engineering, site information, regulated-trade work, owner selections, and approvals. For each handoff, record the document or decision required and who receives it. A contractor’s general involvement does not establish an in-house design team or responsibility for every outside service.
Home Addition Tie-Ins: What Must Connect to the Existing Building?
Plan an attached addition by reviewing the connections between old and new construction together: foundation and framing, roof and walls, floor levels, drainage, utilities, and circulation. Record the existing conditions and unknowns at each connection. A licensed engineer should address structural design or diagnosis; a contractor’s preliminary observations cannot establish concealed conditions or substitute for that professional review.
Planning an Addition on an Occupied Property: Access and Separation Questions
Before planning to occupy a property during an addition, discuss separate routes for occupants and construction, the transition through the existing wall, utility interruptions, and temporary arrangements. Record where normal use may stop and who approves each change. Staying on site depends on the work and professional review; an addition does not guarantee uninterrupted access or safe occupancy throughout construction.
Is Your Lot Ready for a Detached ADU? Questions to Check Before Design
Check detached ADU feasibility by reviewing the survey, proposed placement, jurisdiction, deed or HOA restrictions, drainage, access, and utility information before fixing a design. Record which constraints a qualified professional or authority still needs to verify. A large backyard, nearby utilities, or a neighbor’s ADU does not establish approval for a secondary dwelling on your property.
ADU Use and Utility Planning: Decisions to Make Before Fixing the Layout
Define who will use the detached ADU, how they will enter it, and which daily activities it must support before fixing the layout. Then ask qualified providers to review utility capacity, connection routes, and system requirements. Keep desired features separate from verified feasibility; existing services near the main home do not establish that they can support another dwelling.