Frequently Asked Questions

At Design Your Price, we believe that clarity builds confidence. Our FAQ section is designed to answer the most common questions homeowners have about remodeling, additions, and the Design Your Price process. Whether you’re curious about timelines, pricing, permits, or design options, you’ll find straightforward answers here. We’re committed to transparency every step of the way—so you can make informed decisions and move forward with confidence in your home transformation.

At What Stage Do I Involve A Builder?

This can vary with each person. We encourage utilising our expertise from the start as our broad knowledge of materials and costs can be utilised to create the perfect project for your family. However, we are frequently approached once clients have already been to their architect and this works well too.

Will I Need Building Permits?

The majority of building work requires a permit, especially with additions and ADUs. Each stage of the building process whether it be structural, plumbing, electrical, or even drywall requires a permit.

Do I Need To Hire An Interior Designer?

We make 3D renderings of your project so you can see what everything will look like before we start building. You can even create a virtual tour and we’ll help guide you to pick out materials and plan your space. That being said, we are not interior designers and we really like working with interior designers! They help make sure everything goes smoothly and that your choices look great together. If you’re not sure what tile, flooring, or style to choose, a designer can really help. There are hundreds of choices in a big project, and we want you to feel good about each one. If you don’t have a designer, we know some great ones and would be happy to connect you.

Who Will Be Doing The Work?

At Design Your Price, we subcontract every phase of your project. Rather than relying on a few general laborers to “do it all,” we bring in expert craftsmen for each specific trade: framers frame, tile setters tile, electricians wire, and plumbers plumb. This ensures each part of your project is done by someone who does that task every day — and does it exceptionally well.

Here’s why that benefits you:

Expertise at Every Step

Our subcontractors are masters of their craft. They focus on one trade and do it better and faster than generalists — leading to higher quality results and fewer mistakes.

Controlled Costs

Because subcontractors price their work clearly and competitively, we can manage costs more precisely. You’ll get better value by paying for exactly what you need — not for general overhead.

Efficient Scheduling

We coordinate every trade in sequence, keeping your project moving forward. Subcontractors work on a predictable schedule, so your project doesn’t stall while one crew tries to wear too many hats.

Clear Accountability

When every trade is handled by a specialist, it’s easier to spot and solve issues quickly. We know who did what and when — and so do you.

Flexibility & Scalability

Need to speed up a timeline? Add a new feature? A fully subcontracted model gives us the flexibility to bring in the right crews as needed — without overextending a single team.

How Does Quality Control Work?

Here at Design Your Price we use a “ 321 pt Quality Control Checklist” so that we can ensure every detail of your build is as planned, as well as, being managed on time and therefore on budget. Nothing hinders the enjoyment of the building process like costs running high. As with most builds there are sometimes alterations that you may wish to add or change as the project evolves. To accomodate this we price any changes you would like or that are needed prior to starting the work. This way you know how much it will cost before any of the work is done and there are NO hidden surprises.

What & Where Can I Build My ADU?

How large an ADU can I build?

Generally, you will be able to build at least a 1000 sqft ADU, and up to 1200 sqft in some cases. Read our guide to ADU size maximums and see city-by-city ADU regulations here.

What is the minimum lot size for an ADU?

There are no minimum lot sizes for accessory dwelling units per California state code. Even if there is a coverage ratio maxed out on your property, you are still allowed to build at least an 800 sqft ADU.

Where on my lot can I build an ADU?

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Setback Regulations – San Diego
Per state law, setbacks for new ADUs have been reduced to 4 feet for side and rear yards. The City of San Diego has gone even further, allowing 0-foot setbacks on the side and rear yards for ADUs. Additionally, no setbacks are required if you’re converting an existing, permitted accessory structure into an ADU.

You can even remove an existing structure (such as an old garage) and replace it with a new ADU that follows the exact footprint of the old structure—even if that original building had reduced, nonconforming setbacks.

For new attached or detached ADUs, setback compliance is generally required—except when there’s an up to 30-foot encroachment allowed (such as a unit built above a garage located at the lot line).

Keep in mind:
Some municipalities enforce a minimum setback from the primary residence. While state law defers to local regulations in this case, a 5 to 10-foot separation is typical. Certain cities do not define a minimum, but fire code still applies, so we generally recommend maintaining at least 6 feet between an ADU and existing structures.

To learn how Design Your Price can help you navigate ADU setbacks and build within local code, contact our team today.

Can I build an ADU in my front yard?

Yes, you can generally build an ADU in your front yard if it complies with underlying setbacks for your lot. A local agency may still apply front yard setbacks for ADUs.

However, front yard setbacks cannot preclude an ADU of at least 800 square feet and must not unduly constrain the creation of all types of ADUs (Gov. Code, § 65852.2, subd. (c) and (e)). To successfully argue for an ADU in the front yard setback, it would have to be the case that nowhere else on the property can accommodate an ADU. We have seen this happen when there is only one yard to the property (e.g. a side/front yard). But if you just want to build in the front to preserve your large back yard? It’s unfortunately not possible unless the ADU conforms to the front setback.