You’re absolutely right – ADU utility connections can be full of costly surprises if you don’t understand the property’s infrastructure. After seeing projects derailed by inadequate electrical, water, septic, and more, we now make comprehensive utility planning step one.
I’ll never forget the shock on John’s face when his basic utility hookup became an $8,500 electrical overhaul. Or Sarah, whose contractor promised easy water access until her brand new ADU showers ran dry anytime someone used a sink.
These aren’t just little connection issues – they often require major system upgrades. Like the clients with a beautifully designed ADU who discovered their septic was inadequate and needed full replacement to the tune of $20k. Ouch.
We take a very different approach. Through in-depth assessments, we identify challenges early and modify designs to work with existing systems whenever possible. Saving clients thousands in upgrades. On one project, we even created an off-grid rainwater system to reduce the ADU’s load on limited well water.
Comprehensive planning makes all the difference. We had a Sarasota client avoid disaster after our utility survey caught a major water line under their planned foundation. That would have been hugely expensive to fix later!
Here are some typical utility upgrade costs that sneak up on people:
- Electrical panel: $4-12k
- Water service: $3-8k
- Septic modifications: $8-25k
- Gas line extension: $2.5-7k
Of course, early identification also allows us to get creative. Like designing a solar-supplemented electrical system to avoid a full panel upgrade. Or right-sizing a separate mini septic system instead of replacing the entire thing.
The key is thinking long-term, not just about the immediate project. For one client, we combined their electrical upgrade with EV charging and solar prep to future-proof their property.
At the end of the day, utility planning is about more than just connecting pipes and wires. It’s about truly understanding your property’s infrastructure needs – both now and in the future.
As I tell new clients, let’s figure out what’s underground before we start building above. Comprehensive utility planning might not be glamorous, but it sets your ADU up for sustainable success.
