Everything You Need To Know About Granny Flats and Garage Conversions in Orange County An ADU is an accessory dwelling unit, otherwise referred to as a granny flat, additional dwelling unit, or garage conversion. It can be defined as a second living unit on a...
GreatBuildz Guide
Tips and advice for a successful renovation

Your New ADU Financing Guide for 2021
Which ADU Financing Option is Right For You? An ADU, otherwise known as an Accessory Dwelling Unit is defined as a second unit on a residential lot in addition to the main house (or main multifamily building). Recently, both in California and in Los Angeles, these...
8 Things You Need To Know About Homeowners Insurance Before Starting A Remodel
Homeowners Insurance: What you Need to Know If you are planning to remodel or renovate your home, there are many factors to take into consideration prior to the start of the project. You need to envision what you want the room, rooms, or addition to look like when...
Why Real Estate Investors Should Consider ADUs In 2021
Los Angeles ADUs: A Real Estate Investor’s Perspective Whether you’re a seasoned real estate investor or you’re just interested in earning additional income from a rental property, this article is for you. Now that the ADU laws & restrictions have drastically...
Accessory Dwelling Unit Guide for Ventura County – Essential New Regulations For 2021
Ventura County ADU and Garage Conversion Guide An ADU, otherwise known as an accessory dwelling unit or additional dwelling unit, is defined as a second structure on a residential lot in addition to the main house. Recently, in California and Ventura County, these...
ADUs in Los Angeles: Top 50 Frequently Asked ADU Questions
ADU FAQ - 50 Most Popular ADU Questions Building an ADU has become more and more popular recently, yet a lot of people don't know much about them. If they do, they only know the very basics, like what it is and the different types of ADUs. With all of the new...
Home Addition Options – How To Create Space For a Growing Family in LA
Here in Los Angeles, it's not unusual for families to quickly outgrow their existing homes. Lots of young couples who are first-time buyers start out in a small home that’s reasonably priced and the right size for them at the time. LA County is chock-full of areas...
10 Home Remodel Surprises You’ll Need To Prepare For
10 Things To Know Before Starting a Home Remodel If you are preparing for a home remodel, there are a number of steps you should take to ensure a successful... and relatively stress-free project. Especially if this is your first time renovating, it’s especially...
Finding The Right Contractor – Podcast With GreatBuildz Co-Founder Paul Dashevsky
Finding the Right Contractor With Paul Dashevsky Mission Matters Money Podcast Finding the right contractor can be tough. Listen to Paul Dashevsky, Founder at GreatBuildz, chat with Adam Torres about what homeowners should do when searching for the right contractor...
Building An ADU? This Construction Scope Checklist Will Keep Your Bids Consistent
Construction Checklist For Building An ADU Accessory Dwelling Units are becoming a very popular project in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Plenty of homeowners are considering building an ADU to meet a variety of different needs, from housing aging parents to...
5 Tips to Save On ADU Costs In Los Angeles
There’s been a lot of talk in Los Angeles about ADUs and garage conversions now that the laws have changed. These are becoming very popular construction projects for homeowners to consider. But let’s face it…they aren’t cheap to build. Building an ADU is really no...
Don’t Let a Home Inspection Kill Your Deals
Realtors know that almost every home transaction requires home inspections. When it comes to ways to kill a deal, home inspections are often a leading culprit, so it’s worth discussing the issues involved. Over the last ten years, I was involved in over 350...
2021 Los Angeles Home Remodel Cost Guide
Unlike a simple purchase like buying a car or vacuum, the range for a remodel cost can vary greatly because there are so many factors and variables involved. If two neighbors renovate the exact same space in each of their homes, it's quite possible one of them could...
Are Granny Flats The Best Idea For Retirees in Los Angeles?
Senior Preparing Food in a Granny Flat ADU | Credit: Getty Images Is a Granny Flat ADU a Good Idea For Seniors and Retirees in Los Angeles? You may have heard: the population of seniors and retirees is expected to surge in the near future. Over the next decade,...
Will 4 New California ADU Laws Help First-Time Home Buyers?
4 New California ADU Laws in 2020:Will They Help First-Time Buyers Afford a Home In LA? Will New California ADU Laws Help First Time Buyers? | Credit: Ris Media The Problem: Homes In LA Are Expensive, Especially For First-Time Buyers Anyone who’s been...
Reality Check: Your Renovation Won’t Be Perfect
How To Set Realistic Expectations For Your Home Renovation Project Here at GreatBuildz, a free service that connects homeowners with reliable general contractors, we talk to homeowners and contractors every day about their renovation experiences - here are some things...
So, You Want To Fire Your Remodeling Contractor?
Remodeling Is Easy, Right? Hiring a remodeling contractor can be one of the most overwhelming things one may ever experience. Depending on the scope of work being done, your lifestyle and daily routine can be altered for weeks, even months. As your home begins to...
Ready To Hire a Contractor? Take These 5 Steps First
Hiring a contractor to remodel your home is a major decision. We’re all aware of this. A contractor is going to impact your life in several significant ways once you’ve hired them. You’re going to be paying a substantial amount of money, you’ll be communicating with...
4 Helpful Reasons Why Your Contractor Estimates Are All Over the Place
One of the most common questions that homeowners looking to remodel ask is: I have estimates from three different contractors for the same project. Why are their prices so different? Understandably, this is a mystery to most people. We don’t expect the same blender or...
Why You Should Never Hire an Unlicensed Contractor
When in doubt, do not hire an unlicensed contractor. At some point in time, every homeowner has had (or will have) the “lovely” experience of requiring some sort of minor electrical or plumbing repair within his or her home. Often times, you ask your friends,...
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