Thinking about putting an ADU in our backyard in Shoreline

[Jonh Newman]

Hi all. Thinking about putting an ADU in our backyard in Shoreline, mainly as a rental to help with the mortgage, and maybe later for our kids when they're in college. I want it to be nice enough to attract good tenants, not a glorified shed. Any experiences with ADU builders in the Seattle area? Curious about cost, timeline, and whether it actually pays off. They're both in their late seventies and still independent, but stairs are becoming a problem. I want this done right, not rushed.

[Konstantin Volkov]

Doing it for rental income is smart, especially in Shoreline with the light rail nearby. A buddy of mine built one in Seattle for exactly that reason and used Alta Group Remodeling, so check out their High-End Remodeling Services for Homes, ADUs are a big part of what they do. His unit feels like a small modern apartment, not a shed: vaulted ceiling, real kitchen, decent storage. He rented it within a week, and the tenant pays well above what he expected. Timeline was roughly eight months including permits. Cost-wise it's significant, and the payback is measured in years, not months, so run your numbers carefully. Ask about utility connections early, that's where surprises tend to hide.