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SPEC_06 / Feasibility

FEASIBILITY STUDIES

A feasibility study is the cheapest insurance in construction. In two weeks we tell you what's actually buildable on your lot, what it will cost, how long it will take, and what return to expect — before you spend a dollar on architectural design.

Deliverables

SPEC_06.A
  • 01Zoning + setback analysis
  • 02Buildable area diagram
  • 03Utility capacity check
  • 04Cost & schedule range
  • 05Rental yield projection
  • 06Written report + 30-min review call

Feasibility questions

SPEC_06.FAQ

Real questions from Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland and Eastside owners evaluating a feasibility studies project. Code references are current as of 2025 — confirm with us during feasibility.

  • Q.01

    What does a feasibility study actually include?

    Zoning + setback analysis against the live SDCI / Bellevue / Kirkland code, a buildable-area diagram on your survey, utility capacity check (water, sewer, power), order-of-magnitude cost range, schedule range, and a rental-yield projection — delivered as a written report plus a 30-min review call.

  • Q.02

    Why pay $1,500–$3,500 for a feasibility study before design?

    Roughly 1 in 5 lots we evaluate has a deal-breaker — a critical-area buffer, missing utility capacity, an existing covenant, or a tree the city won't let us remove. Spending two weeks and a few thousand dollars beats discovering it after $25K of architectural drawings.

  • Q.03

    How long does a feasibility study take?

    1–2 weeks from when we receive your address and survey (or we can pull a King County GIS survey if you don't have one). Faster turnarounds are possible for a rush fee.

  • Q.04

    Will the feasibility fee credit toward construction if we move forward?

    Yes — 100% of the feasibility fee is credited against the design-build contract if you move forward with Golden within 12 months of the report.

  • Q.05

    Can you do feasibility for properties in Tacoma, Olympia, or Everett?

    Yes. We cover the entire Puget Sound corridor from Olympia to Everett. Each city has its own ADU code variations — Tacoma's UDC, Olympia's MFR-D zones, Everett's recent ADU expansion — and our report applies the correct local rules, not a Seattle template.

  • Q.06

    Do you handle critical-area or steep-slope reviews in the report?

    Yes. We pull King County and Seattle GIS for environmentally critical areas (ECA) — wetlands, steep slopes, riparian buffers, liquefaction zones — and flag any that affect buildable area. Mitigation cost ranges are included when relevant.

FAQ

Frequently asked

  • What is included in FEASIBILITY STUDIES?

    Our FEASIBILITY STUDIES scope includes design through completion: feasibility, schematic design, construction documents, permit submittal and review management, construction with one self-performed framing crew plus L&I-licensed MEP subcontractors, all required WA inspections, certificate of occupancy, and warranty. One contract, one license number, one warranty — not a coordination headache across five vendors.

    Go deeper: Glossary: Feasibility Study

  • How is FEASIBILITY STUDIES different from a generic remodel?

    FEASIBILITY STUDIES carries code, permit, and construction details that a one-off remodeler hasn't repeated enough times to optimize. Examples: IECC R406 envelope path selection, fire separation when units are within 5 ft, side-sewer slope requirements, IRC Appendix AQ when permitted as a tiny house, separate utility metering rules. We do this scope every month — repetition is what makes our first-cycle approval rate and our schedule reliability stand out.

  • What is the typical price range for FEASIBILITY STUDIES?

    FEASIBILITY STUDIES pricing in 2026 lands $330–$380/sqft all-in depending on size, lot conditions, finish tier, and AHJ. The wide range is real — small lots with difficult access, soils requiring pier-and-beam, or service upgrades push the upper end; flat lots with good access and a catalog plan land at the lower end. Our feasibility report gives you a ±15% number tailored to your specific lot in two weeks.

    Go deeper: Read the Five hidden ADU costs that wreck Puget Sound budgets guide

  • What permits does FEASIBILITY STUDIES require?

    Standard FEASIBILITY STUDIES permit stack: building permit (covers structural, mechanical, plumbing under combined review), side-sewer permit, water meter capacity check, electrical permit, drainage review where applicable, addressing application. Critical-areas review triggers on lots mapped for steep slope, wetland, riparian, or landslide hazard. We pull all permits as a pass-through line in our contract — not marked up.

    Go deeper: Read the King County side sewer permits for ADUs: cost & timeline (2026) guide

  • How long does FEASIBILITY STUDIES take from contract to completion?

    9–14 months end-to-end is typical for FEASIBILITY STUDIES: 6–8 weeks design, 8–16 weeks permit, 18–26 weeks construction. Faster on catalog plans with pre-app meetings. Schedule variance is driven by AHJ workload, owner selection pace, and any field-discovered conditions. We publish a Gantt at contract and update it weekly.

    Go deeper: Read the Eastside deck cost & permits: cedar, IPE, composite (2026) guide

  • What's the warranty on FEASIBILITY STUDIES?

    One year workmanship, two years mechanical (HVAC, plumbing rough, electrical rough), 10 years structural per RCW 4.16.310. Manufacturer warranties pass through directly: LP SmartSide siding 50-year, GAF Timberline HDZ shingles, Marvin window 20-year, Bosch/GE appliances 1-year. Documented in a written warranty packet at closeout.

    Go deeper: Workmanship Warranty

  • Do you self-perform FEASIBILITY STUDIES work or subcontract everything?

    We self-perform framing, exterior weather barrier, interior trim, and project supervision with W-2 carpenters. MEP trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) are subcontracted to L&I-licensed specialty contractors we've worked with 5+ years — WA requires separate PL, EL, HVAC/R licenses that a GC cannot legally self-perform without them.

    Go deeper: Explore Whole-Home Remodeling

  • What's the change-order policy on FEASIBILITY STUDIES?

    Every change order is written, priced, and signed before work proceeds. We never charge T&M without a not-to-exceed. Owner-initiated changes carry 15% OH&P; field-discovered conditions (rotted sheathing, undocumented buried oil tank, unmapped sewer) are priced at cost +10% with photo documentation. Average FEASIBILITY STUDIES project sees 4–7 change orders totaling 3–6% of contract value.

    Go deeper: Glossary: Feasibility Study

  • What financing works for FEASIBILITY STUDIES?

    HELOC (fastest, 8.0–9.5% APR), renovation loan (Fannie HomeStyle / Freddie CHOICERenovation, 7.1–7.9%), construction-to-perm (best for ground-up), or cash-out refi (only if existing rate above market). WSHFC's ADU pilot at ~3.5–4.25% applies to ADU-scoped FEASIBILITY STUDIES projects for income-qualified owners.

    Go deeper: Seattle ADU financing options

  • Do you provide references for FEASIBILITY STUDIES work?

    Yes — we provide 5+ FEASIBILITY STUDIES references on request: past clients in your target city, your target neighborhood when possible, and at your target scope. References include name, phone, project address, and a one-paragraph project summary. We refresh the reference list quarterly so the contacts are recent and reachable.

    Go deeper: Explore Whole-Home Remodeling

SERVICE_FEASIBILITY

Feasibility is what we do every week — want a quote on yours?

Send the address and we'll come back with a real number for Feasibility on your lot, plus 3 named comparables we've delivered.

  • Feasibility-specific quote with 3 named comparables
  • Fixed-fee scope, no ranges
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