ADU Feasibility Review

Before you decide what to build, determine what makes sense.

An ADU can be a significant investment. Before spending money on architectural plans, engineering, or construction proposals, it makes sense to understand what your property can support, what obstacles may exist, and what the project may cost.

Let's Talk About Your ADU
Bay State Professional ADU Feasibility Report on Property Analysis

ADU Feasibility Review

The standard ADU Feasibility Review includes preliminary property research, an in-person property visit, zoning and regulatory review, evaluation of potential ADU options, utility and site considerations, preliminary cost analysis, a written feasibility report, and a review of the findings with you.

  • Preliminary Property Research
  • In-Person Property Visit
  • Zoning & Regulatory Review
  • Evaluation of Potential ADU Options
  • Complete Written Feasibility Report

No obligation to use Bay State ADU Advisors for any additional services.

FIXED RATE FEE

$995

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OUR METHODOLOGY

What We Evaluate

01

Zoning & Regulatory Requirements

SETBACKS, HEIGHT LIMITS & BYLAWS

We review your municipality's zoning requirements to identify applicable ADU size limits, height limits, setbacks, parking requirements, and other dimensional requirements.

02

Property & Site Conditions

TOPOGRAPHY, LOT COVERAGE & ACCESS

We consider the property's topography, existing structures, lot coverage, trees and landscaping, site access, and other physical conditions that may affect ADU options.

03

Utilities & Infrastructure

WATER, SEWER, SEPTIC & ELECTRICAL

We consider existing water, sewer or septic systems, electrical service capacity, potential utility routes, and upgrades or connections that may be required.

04

ADU Options

ATTACHED, DETACHED, OR CONVERSION

We consider viable alternatives for your property, which may include an internal conversion, attached addition, detached ADU, garage conversion, or other configuration.

05

Preliminary Costs

PERMITS, SITE PREP & CONSTRUCTION

We provide preliminary budget ranges and identify major cost factors, including construction, utilities, site work, design, and permitting.

06

Obstacles & Next Steps

RISK MITIGATION & ROADMAP

We identify significant constraints, unresolved questions, potential approval issues, and the next steps to investigate before moving forward.

Bay State ADU advisor inspecting property site and utility access

SOME THINGS CAN'T BE EVALUATED FROM A COMPUTER SCREEN

Every Review Includes a Property Visit

Every Bay State ADU Feasibility Review includes an in-person visit to the property. The visit provides an opportunity to look at the house and property firsthand, discuss how you expect to use the ADU, examine potential ADU locations, observe utilities and existing conditions, and identify issues that may not be apparent from public records or aerial images.

  • Discuss how you expect to use the ADU
  • Examine potential ADU locations
  • Observe utilities, grading, access, and existing conditions

The best solution is not always obvious

We Look at More Than One Answer

As appropriate, the review may compare internal, attached, detached, garage-conversion, or other alternatives. The objective isn't to confirm the first idea. It's to identify the options that make the most sense for your property, your objectives, and your budget.

  • Internal & Attached ADU Solutions
  • Detached Backyard Cottages
  • Garage & Accessory Structure Conversions
Architectural sketch overlay on a real property photo showing ADU potential.

What You Receive

ADU Feasibility Report

The findings are organized into a written report that you can refer to as you make decisions and talk with designers, contractors, municipal officials, and other professionals.

  • Property and existing-condition observations
  • Zoning and regulatory findings
  • Utility and infrastructure considerations
  • Evaluation of potential ADU configurations
  • Conceptual ADU locations or footprints
  • Preliminary construction-cost ranges
  • Major project-cost considerations
  • Issues requiring further investigation
  • Recommended next steps
  • Supporting photographs, maps, diagrams, or research

How the Feasibility Review Works

A structured property review designed to evaluate ADU feasibility, identify reasonable options, and uncover potential obstacles before you make significant design or construction commitments.

01

Initial Conversation

An introductory consultation to explore your goals, budget parameters, and ADU design preferences.

02

Preliminary Research

We review local zoning bylaws, property maps, GIS overlays, and other pertinent data for your lot.

03

Property Visit

An on-site inspection evaluating topography, existing utility services, tree and structure locations, and setbacks.

04

Research & Analysis

We combine field observations with zoning, building requirements, property information, and additional research to evaluate potential ADU locations, utility considerations, and other project requirements.

05

Feasibility Report

A clear, documented analysis outlining ADU viability, potential ADU sizes and locations, utility considerations, and a breakdown of next steps.

06

Review Together

We review our detailed report with you,  discuss our findings, consider available options, and help you plan your next steps.

ADVICE BASED ON YOUR PROJECT

Independent Advice

Bay State ADU Advisors does not build or sell ADUs and does not accept commissions or referral fees from builders, manufacturers, designers, or other companies we recommend.

Learn More About Our Independent Approach →

A Feasibility Review Doesn't Commit You to Building

What Happens Next?

The review may show that you're ready to move forward with design. It may identify questions that should be resolved first. A different ADU approach may make more sense than the one you originally considered. Or you may decide that an ADU isn't practical for your property or budget.

Any of those can be a useful result.

The purpose of the review is to give you better information before you make larger financial commitments.

FAQ

Have questions about our feasibility review process? Find professional insights below.

Do I need plans before having a feasibility review?

No, architectural plans are not required. A feasibility review is actually the best first step. We analyze local zoning codes, utility connections, setbacks, and site constraints to determine what is permitted on your property before you spend money on custom designs.

Knowing your preferred location is helpful. During our review, we will specifically evaluate that exact spot for utility access lines, required setbacks, property lines, and zoning compliance to assess whether it appears viable, or suggest alternative placement options if constraints exist.

The feasibility review does not provide a final contractor bid. It provides preliminary planning ranges and identifies significant cost factors such as construction, utilities, site work, design, and permitting. These ranges can help you develop a more realistic preliminary budget and identify costs that need further investigation.

We operate as an independent, neutral advisory service. This means we do not design or construct the ADU ourselves. By remaining independent, we offer objective assessments free of any builder bias, providing you with a reliable report to hand over to any architect or general contractor of your choice.

After the feasibility review is complete, we are also available to provide separate services for project planning, contractor & bid evaluation, and owner's representation during construction.

Learning that an ADU isn't practical can still be a valuable result, particularly before you make larger commitments to design, engineering, permitting, or construction. We will explain the significant barriers and, where appropriate, identify alternatives or questions worth investigating further.

Ready to Find Out What's Possible?

You don't need to have your ADU figured out before contacting us. Tell us about your property, why you're considering an ADU, and what questions you have. We can start there.

Standard ADU Feasibility Review: $995

Let's Talk About Your ADU