Frequently Asked Questions

From signed contract to certificate of occupancy, most Moreno Valley ADUs take 8 to 14 months. Design and permitting typically consume 3 to 5 months, construction another 5 to 9 months depending on size and complexity. The city's planning department has improved turnaround since 2020, but plan check revisions are still common on hillside lots near Box Springs Mountain. We build realistic timelines into your contract and text you when crews are en route. Call (951) 379-3047 to discuss your property's specific timeline.

We start with a site assessment and feasibility study, then produce architectural drawings and structural calculations. Once you approve the design, we submit for planning and building permits simultaneously, which Moreno Valley allows under state law. After permit approval, we schedule construction in a single continuous block, not piecemeal between other jobs. You receive photo documentation at each phase under Clause 4 of The Haven Standard. Call (951) 379-3047 to schedule your initial assessment.

No. We are a design-build studio, meaning our architects and designers work under the same contract as our builders. This eliminates the common problem where an independent architect specifies materials or details that blow the construction budget, leaving you caught between two parties. In Moreno Valley, we've seen this especially with foundation designs that don't account for local expansive soils. One contract, one price, one team accountable for the result. Call (951) 379-3047 to see how this works for your project.

Yes, though slope adds foundation complexity and cost. Moreno Valley's terrain varies dramatically, from the relatively flat neighborhoods near the 60 freeway to the steeper lots approaching Box Springs Mountain Reserve. We engineer retaining walls, stepped foundations, or pier systems as needed. The key is assessing early, before design is finalized. We've built on graded lots in the hills above Moreno Valley Community Hospital where standard slab-on-grade would have failed. Call (951) 379-3047 for a site-specific assessment.

Yes, utility coordination is included in our scope. We work with Southern California Edison and the Eastern Municipal Water District to size new services, upgrade panels, and install separate meters for your ADU. In older Moreno Valley neighborhoods, we've found original panels from the 1980s that can't handle the additional load without replacement. We document existing conditions with photos and readings, then specify exactly what's needed in your written quote. Call (951) 379-3047 to check your property's utility capacity.

James Hardie fiber cement siding performs exceptionally well in Moreno Valley's hot, dry summers and occasional Santa Ana wind events. It doesn't warp or crack like vinyl in our temperature swings, and it carries a 30-year warranty. We also specify it because it meets California's wildfire-resistant construction requirements, which apply in parts of Riverside County. Your written quote specifies the exact product line and color. Call (951) 379-3047 to see samples and discuss options for your ADU.

We can integrate prefab units from Abodu or Cover into your project, though we typically find that site-built construction offers better value in Moreno Valley's market. Prefab makes sense when speed is paramount or when site access is severely constrained. The tradeoff is less flexibility in layout and finishes. We'll assess your lot, your timeline, and your budget, then recommend the approach that fits. If prefab is right, we handle foundation, utility connections, and final finish work. Call (951) 379-3047 to discuss which path fits your project.

Dvele builds high-performance, all-electric ADUs with integrated smart home systems. For Moreno Valley homeowners prioritizing net-zero energy goals or planning to add solar, Dvele's envelope and systems can reduce long-term operating costs significantly. We evaluate whether the premium upfront cost aligns with your hold period and energy goals. The local climate, with over 270 sunny days annually, makes solar pairing particularly effective here. Call (951) 379-3047 to run the numbers for your specific situation.

Yes. Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance California requires for residential construction. We pull all permits in our name, which means we are the party of record with the city and accountable for code compliance. Your contract includes license numbers and insurance certificates before work begins, under Clause 3 of The Haven Standard. Call (951) 379-3047 to verify our current standing.

We pull all permits. The permit is in our name, which makes us legally responsible for code compliance and inspection passage. In Moreno Valley, this means we handle submission to the Planning Division, respond to plan check corrections, schedule inspections, and coordinate the final certificate of occupancy. Homeowners who pull their own permits often find themselves responsible for corrections the contractor made, a situation we avoid entirely. Call (951) 379-3047 and we'll handle the permitting from start to finish.

Yes. We carry general liability and workers compensation coverage, and we name you as additional insured on our policy for the duration of construction. Your written contract includes current certificates before any work begins. This protects you if a worker is injured on your property or if construction damage occurs to your existing home. In Moreno Valley's older neighborhoods, where we sometimes work near aging infrastructure, this matters. Call (951) 379-3047 and we'll provide documentation with your estimate.

We document every phase with photos and readings under Clause 4 of The Haven Standard, so disputes are rare and resolvable. If an issue arises, your project manager is your single point of contact, reachable by phone or text. We don't route you through a call center; a live coordinator connects you with the local team. For genuine emergencies like exposed electrical or structural compromise, we respond immediately. Call (951) 379-3047 anytime, day or night.

Yes, our phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A live coordinator takes your call and connects you with the appropriate team member. For non-urgent questions, we typically respond by the next business day with photos, documentation, or a site visit if needed. We know ADU construction is a major investment, and waiting until Monday for peace of mind isn't reasonable. Call (951) 379-3047 whenever you need to reach us.

We provide a written workmanship warranty before construction starts, under Clause 1 of The Haven Standard. The specific terms depend on the systems involved: typically 1 year on finishes and fixtures, longer on structural elements and major systems. Our warranty is backed by documentation, photos, and readings from your actual job, not generic language. If you sell your Moreno Valley property, the warranty transfers to the new owner. Call (951) 379-3047 and we'll include the full warranty terms with your written quote.

The Haven Standard is our documented commitment to every ADU we build: Have it in writing, Arrive on schedule, Verified crews, Evidence on every job, No surprises. It means a flat price before we start, a real arrival window with text notification, licensed and background-checked tradespeople, photo documentation of conditions found and work performed, and zero scope creep or upsell. We've applied this standard to every ADU since 2015. Call (951) 379-3047 to experience the difference it makes.

Your ADU adds significant value in Moreno Valley's market, and our workmanship warranty transfers to the new owner. We also provide a complete documentation package, permits, inspection records, and as-built drawings that streamline the sale. In Riverside County's competitive market, buyers increasingly expect this level of documentation. We've had past clients in Grand Terrace and Redlands tell us this paperwork package helped close their sale faster. Call (951) 379-3047 to start your project with proper documentation from day one.

Written by Nadia Ellery, Owner at Ellery ADU Studio Moreno Valley, serving Moreno Valley, Redlands, Perris, Grand Terrace, Riverside, Colton, Yucaipa, Highland, Beaumont, San Bernardino, Menifee, and Rialto since 2015.