Case Study: When the 'Simple' ADU Option Wasn't
A homeowner mid-renovation wanted to add a prefab ADU for aging parents — until permitting, septic, and cost complications revealed a better path. Here's how we helped her find a faster, cheaper solution that actually worked.
ADU Reality Check: What's Actually Allowed in Northern Westchester
Accessory dwelling units have generated more renovation conversations and fewer actual built projects in northern Westchester than almost any other category, and the reason is consistent — most candidate properties fail one or more of five feasibility gates: zoning permission, lot size, septic capacity, setbacks, and owner-occupancy conditions. This guide walks through the gates, the three ADU configurations, town-by-town patterns, and how to run a feasibility check before investing in design.
Finishing an Attic in an Older Westchester Home: The Code Requirements That Catch People Off Guard
Finishing an attic looks like one of the cheapest renovations available — the space already exists, the roof is overhead, and the floor structure is in place. The code work required to legally call older Westchester attic space habitable typically involves more than the "just put up some drywall" mental model suggests, and this guide walks through the five IRC gates that catch homeowners off guard along with 2026 cost ranges by scope.