Emilie Karas had no experience in construction when she purchased a rundown six-bedroom house in Portland, Oregon, in early 2020. But after the contractor she had hired to demolish and rebuild the home quit when the pandemic hit, she was forced to skill up quickly. Becoming an amateur building project manager set her up well for what happened next. In 2021, the city of Portland made it legal for homeowners to add up to two accessory dwelling units — also known as backyard cottages or granny