Know if your ADU is worth building — before you risk six figures.

Most homeowners discover fatal ADU problems after they’ve already spent money. ADUscale lets you weigh that decision with lot-specific data — before you commit.
Run My Free ADU Reality Check
Takes ~3 minutes. No sales calls. No builder commissions.
Decide
Know if your lot actually supports an ADU — before spending on plans.
Avoid spending $20k on plans for an impossible lot.
Verify
Pressure-test costs and contractors using real permit history, not promises.
Avoid trusting cost estimates that explode later.
Protect
Control your money with escrow-based payments verified at each milestone.
Avoid 40–50% deposits with no milestone control.

Start with a free ADU Reality Check

Run My Free ADU Reality Check
Takes ~2 minutes • No obligation
Before reports, before calls, before contractors — get a fast reality check on your property.
What it checks
Is an ADU allowed on your lot (at a high level)
Maximum potential unit size
Common red flags based on zoning and location
Whether it’s worth going deeper
What it does not do
No sales calls
No contractor referrals
No pressure to “move forward”
This is not a lead form. It’s a filter.

Why ADU projects go wrong — even when they’re “allowed”

Most ADU failures aren’t about design. They’re about early financial exposure.
Regulations vary by city, lot, and utility access — not by blog posts
“Average costs” ignore site-specific upgrades that blow up budgets
Contractors optimize for selling projects, not protecting homeowners
Large upfront deposits put your money at risk before work is verified
The biggest mistake:
committing before you have an independent reality check.

The ADUscale Method
Decide. Verify. Protect. Build.

Most ADU mistakes happen before construction starts. We reduce risk — step by step.
Decide (Feasibility & Risk Assessment)
Lot-specific zoning, utilities, permitting friction, and cost drivers — analyzed before you spend on plans.

One clear question:

Should you build on this lot — or not?
Outcome:
Clear Go / No-Go decision.
Verify (Contractor & Cost Validation)
We don’t sell leads. We verify builders.

Each contractor is reviewed based on:
  • Actual ADU permit history
  • License, bond & insurance status
  • Legal and dispute records
  • Performance on similar lot types
  • Change order patterns
We also pressure-test proposals for scope gaps, unrealistic allowances, and hidden upgrade assumptions.
Outcome:

Validated builders and reality-checked bids.
Protect (Owner’s Rep + Escrow Control)
No large upfront deposits.

Your funds stay in secure escrow.

Payments are released only after verified milestones.

Every dollar is reviewed before approval.
Outcome:

Escrow-controlled payments with milestone verification.
Build (Independent Oversight)
Construction increases risk — not reduces it.

We monitor progress, review change orders, and validate milestone completion until final delivery.

You are not navigating a six-figure project alone.
Outcome:
Clear Go / No-Go decision.

Choose your level
of protection

Free — ADU Reality Check
$0
Run My Free ADU Reality Check
A fast filter before you go deeper
Observed timelines and regulatory friction signals.
  • Typical permit costs in your jurisdiction
  • Real-world approval timelines (observed, not official targets)
  • Permit complexity indicators based on overlays and controls
  • Recent ADU permit activity in comparable parcels
  • Early warning signals of delay or denial patterns
ADU Feasibility & Risk Assessment
A structured build / no-build decision review
This is not a promotional ADU report.

It is an address-specific due diligence review designed to support a six-figure capital decision.
$199 (one-time)
Get My Build-or-Don’t-Build Answer
This assessment is independent. We do not sell your data to contractors — and we will recommend not building if risk outweighs return.
What we evaluate for your property
Zoning & Regulatory Position
Observed timelines and regulatory friction signals.
  • Typical permit costs in your jurisdiction
  • Real-world approval timelines (observed, not official targets)
  • Permit complexity indicators based on overlays and controls
  • Recent ADU permit activity in comparable parcels
  • Early warning signals of delay or denial patterns
Permits & Approval Risk
Observed timelines and regulatory friction signals.
  • Typical permit costs in your jurisdiction
  • Real-world approval timelines (observed, not official targets)
  • Permit complexity indicators based on overlays and controls
  • Recent ADU permit activity in comparable parcels
  • Early warning signals of delay or denial patterns
Utilities & Site Constraints
Observed timelines and regulatory friction signals.
  • Typical permit costs in your jurisdiction
  • Real-world approval timelines (observed, not official targets)
  • Permit complexity indicators based on overlays and controls
  • Recent ADU permit activity in comparable parcels
  • Early warning signals of delay or denial patterns
Cost Envelope & Return Snapshot
Observed timelines and regulatory friction signals.
  • Typical permit costs in your jurisdiction
  • Real-world approval timelines (observed, not official targets)
  • Permit complexity indicators based on overlays and controls
  • Recent ADU permit activity in comparable parcels
  • Early warning signals of delay or denial patterns
Deliverable
Observed timelines and regulatory friction signals.
  • Typical permit costs in your jurisdiction
  • Real-world approval timelines (observed, not official targets)
  • Permit complexity indicators based on overlays and controls
  • Recent ADU permit activity in comparable parcels
  • Early warning signals of delay or denial patterns
Owner’s Representative Service
$ Custom quote
Talk to an Owner’s Rep
Full protection from contract to completion
Observed timelines and regulatory friction signals.
  • Typical permit costs in your jurisdiction
  • Real-world approval timelines (observed, not official targets)
  • Permit complexity indicators based on overlays and controls
  • Recent ADU permit activity in comparable parcels
  • Early warning signals of delay or denial patterns

Why ADUscale Is Structurally Different

We are not a contractor. And that’s the point.
We don’t build ADUs
We don’t take commissions from builders.
We don’t profit when your construction budget increases.
Our only incentive is clarity and capital protection.

Incentive
Comparisom

Feature
General Contractor
Lead Marketplaces
ADUscale (Owner’s Rep)
Primary Incentive
Sell construction
Sell leads
Protect homeowner
Budget Bias
Higher is better
Neutral
Accuracy matters
Vetting
Self-reported
Minimal
Independet review
Payments
Direct to builder
Direct to builder
Escrow-controlled
Risk to Owner
High
High
Minimized

How ADUscale Makes Money

Our model is transparent:
Fixed-fee Feasibility & Risk Assessments
Owner’s Representation fees
Platform administration fees tied to verification and escrow oversight
We do not sell leads.

We do not accept referral commissions.

Our revenue does not increase when your construction budget increases.

Escrow-Based Fund Control

Client funds are placed into secure, Stripe-powered escrow.
Payments are released only after verified milestones.
Contractors are paid for completed work — not upfront promises.
If the numbers don’t work — we’ll say don’t build.
We are financially positioned to recommend restraint when risk outweighs return.

The only risk-free step in your ADU journey.

Before plans. Before contractors. Before deposits.
Run My Free ADU Reality Check
No sales pressure • Independent • Built for homeowners