How We Work
It begins by listening
The best ADU isn’t the fanciest one or the cheapest one — it’s the one that fits your goals, your property, and the rules, all at once. Getting there takes a process, and ours is built on decades of doing it well across the Lower Cape. Here is how it goes.
We listen
Before anything else, we listen. What are you actually trying to do? Income, downsizing, aging in place, a place for family — the real goal shapes every decision that follows. This is the most important conversation we have, and it’s free.
We study your property
Every lot has attributes and limitations — its size, slope, soils, existing structures, septic system, and where the sun and the neighbors are. We assess what your specific property offers and where it pushes back.
We establish what’s possible
Then the rules: the legal and physical limits of what can be built here. Zoning and setbacks, Title 5 septic capacity, historic-district review, coastal and flood-zone requirements. We map the real envelope before we design inside it — so the plan holds up at the building department.
We clarify your goals for the space
With the property and the rules understood, we get specific about the outcomes you want — how you’ll live in it or rent it, the accessibility you need now and later, the feel of the place. Physical goals become design requirements.
We address the finances honestly
Finally, the numbers. We talk through costs and financial considerations openly — and here is where experience pays off. Good design minimizes cost: smart siting shortens utility runs, the right layout avoids structural surprises, and sound choices early prevent expensive changes later. We design to make the project work financially, not to run up the bill.
Why It Works
Design is where cost is won or lost
By the time construction starts, most of your project’s cost is already locked in by the design. That’s why we invest in getting it right on paper first. The preliminary plans and estimates we provide come as part of our standard, good-faith process — not a separate billable phase — so you can make a clear-eyed decision before committing.
- Free initial consultation to understand your goals
- Preliminary design before any estimate
- Experience that turns constraints into smart, lower-cost solutions
- Local knowledge that keeps permitting on track
So we get the design right first.
The choices made on paper — siting, layout, structure, systems — determine most of what you’ll spend. Thoughtful design is the highest-leverage money in the whole project.
Let’s Talk
Good design starts with a conversation.
Tell us about your home and what you’re trying to accomplish. The first consultation is free, and you’ll have a preliminary design in hand before any estimate — no obligation, no pressure.
Start with a Free ConsultationVern Hatt · Licensed Construction Supervisor #CS62739 · Home Improvement Contractor #177590