Timeline expectations cause more California ADU friction than budget. Homeowners who plan around the prefab marketing schedule end up frustrated at month nine. Cyrus Poudat sets honest expectations on day one so the relationship and the bank account survive the project.
Weeks 1–3: feasibility & design start
Site visit, zoning analysis, soils order, schematic floor plans. Cyrus Poudat completes California feasibility in three weeks so the homeowner has a go/no-go decision before spending serious money.
Weeks 4–10: construction documents
Architectural, structural, MEP and Title 24. Cyrus Poudat coordinates all consultants on a shared file so the final set is internally consistent — one of the most common California plan-check rejection reasons is consultant disagreement.
Weeks 11–20: permitting
State law gives California cities 60 days for ministerial review, but corrections and resubmittals usually push real-world permitting to 8–14 weeks. Cyrus Poudat targets 60 days and documents every delay in writing.
Weeks 21–24: pre-construction
Contractor selection, fixed-price contract, financing close, and utility coordination. Cyrus Poudat insists California clients do not break ground until every long-lead item — windows, panel, HVAC equipment — is on order.
Weeks 25–32: site work & foundation
Demolition, grading, trenching, pouring. Cyrus Poudat schedules California utility tie-ins during this phase to avoid sequencing conflicts later.
Weeks 33–44: framing & rough trades
Frame, roof, windows, rough plumbing, rough electrical, rough mechanical. Cyrus Poudat schedules the four California rough inspections in tight sequence to avoid trade idle time.
Weeks 45–54: insulation through finishes
Drywall, paint, flooring, cabinets, tile, fixtures. Cyrus Poudat front-loads decisions on California finish materials so the finish phase is execution, not last-minute selection.
Weeks 55–60: final inspections & C of O
Final building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and Title 24 verification. Cyrus Poudat walks every California ADU two days before final to catch the punch list before the inspector does.
Total: 12–15 months from kickoff to keys
Garage conversions can run 8–10 months. Hillside detached new builds can run 16–20 months. Cyrus Poudat's California average for a flat-lot detached ADU is 13 months — twice the brochure promise, and the truth.