Key facts
- The ADU is 1,100 square feet.
- The project's initial budget was $480,000.
- Bonjour cited hiring the wrong architect as a major mistake.
- Local permitting for solar panels proved particularly challenging.
Real estate agent Shalini Karnani Bonjour is constructing a 1,100-square-foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in her California backyard for her mother, who moved closer to her family in 2024. The project, which began in 2025, has faced significant delays and cost thousands more than the initial $480,000 budget. Bonjour identified hiring an inadequate architect and navigating complex local permitting rules, particularly for solar panels, as major challenges. She noted that the original architect's plans have made construction more difficult for the current builder.