ADU Strategy With Stephanie Gutierrez | Ep 006 | Building What Matters

This episode of the "Building What Matters" podcast features host Andrew Robles (@fbcorpceo) and guest Stephanie Gutierrez (@stephsellsadus), an investor, realtor, and ADU strategist, who is also the founder of ADUGGInvestments.org. The two discuss their shared work in real estate development, focusing heavily on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and how they are expanding their businesses from California to Florida.

• Bicoastal Business Strategy: Andrew and Stephanie, both based in Los Angeles, connected in Florida and discovered they both operate on both the West and East Coasts. They share a synergy in their similar business spaces, servicing clients from "coast to coast."

• The Florida Market Expansion:

  • Stephanie, a self-proclaimed ADU advocate, was drawn to Florida because it satisfied her non-negotiable requirement of being near the water/beach. She got her real estate license there and sees it as an opportunity to be a pioneer in the ADU movement, comparing it favorably to the already-paved markets of California, Oregon, and Washington.

  • The ADU Opportunity in Florida: While California has established state laws (like SB 1211 and SB 9) that streamline ADU construction and allow for multi-family ADU development (up to 8 detached ADUs for 8-unit buildings), Florida is just starting. It recently passed an ADU ordinance requiring local municipalities to have some sort of ADU law, but it lacks the strong state oversight of California. This presents a huge opportunity to advocate for and build high-quality products in a market where quality and service are often lacking.

   

• Building Quality and Reputation: Andrew and Stephanie agree that delivering good quality product and excellent customer service will allow them to stand out in the competitive, yet underdeveloped, Florida market, especially where construction standards (like concrete mixing and waterproofing) and talent acquisition are challenging. Andrew has brought his team members from Florida (Nelly, Annalise) to California to shadow his projects to ensure consistent quality and synergy before they return to build in Florida.

• ADU Strategy for Homeowners and Developers:

  • The First Step: Stephanie advises homeowners looking to build an ADU to first figure out financing. For many, tapping into home equity is the best way to fund the $150k–$250k+ project.

  • The Role of an ADU Strategist: Stephanie offers her services from start to finish: financing, feasibility studies, design planning, and even property management after the project is complete, especially for new landlords who may be overwhelmed by the responsibilities (maintenance, lease agreements, etc.).

  • Long-Term Strategy: ADUs are a long-term play (5-10 year run) and not a quick "flip" strategy. Investors should consider maximizing the number of units (like two 2-bedroom units) and making durable finish choices that allow for future uses (e.g., family member housing, assisted living).

  • ADUs vs. Parking: When addressing a client's question about the value of ADUs versus parking in metro LA, they strongly suggest "screwing the parking" and building the ADUs, citing recent legislation like SB 79 that reduces or eliminates parking requirements for dense developments.

• The Value of Women in Construction:

  • Andrew highlights that Foundational Builders Corp has long embraced women in construction, noting that female project managers bring superior attention to detail, customer service, and documentation to projects.

  • Stephanie shares that she loves seeing women in the construction space, believing they are naturally better at multitasking, systemizing processes, and balancing complex tasks, all crucial elements for streamlined construction projects.

Stephanie discusses her efforts to balance her business owner, strategist, and mother roles. She is now a certified Ocean Healing Therapist and practices this to help her manage the stress of entrepreneurship.

• She integrates self-care rituals, like surfing or biking to the beach, to calm her nervous system and allows her to be more emotionally resilient for tough business challenges.

• She hosts Ocean Healing Sessions for women in business and teens, helping them navigate the challenges of juggling multiple roles.

• She emphasizes the importance of knowing when to apply feminine energy (at home) versus being firm and confident (masculine energy) in business, especially in male-dominated fields like construction.