A modern detached backyard ADU guest cottage featuring natural vertical wood siding, a dark standing seam metal roof, and a covered porch connected by a flagstone walkway through a lush landscaped garden

Do ADUs Increase Home Value? Resale Impact & Guide

An ADU adds real, measurable value to a California home, and in most markets that value

A technician's tool bag and inspection clipboards resting on a redwood deck beside an outdoor mini-split heat pump unit outside a modern dark gray ADU cottage surrounded by garden landscaping

ADU Maintenance & Repair Guide

ADU maintenance is the ongoing care of an accessory dwelling unit’s structure, systems, and finishes to

A modern detached backyard ADU with stucco and cedar wood siding, corner picture windows, a wooden patio deck, and a flagstone pathway surrounded by drought-tolerant landscaping at sunset

ADU Rental Income & Property Management Guide

An ADU generates rental income the moment it’s permitted, finished, and leased to a tenant paying

An architectural plot plan showing a proposed ADU layout with a drafting compass and triangular scale ruler on a wooden desk, looking out through large windows toward a landscaped backyard and modern cedar studio cottage

ADU Permits & Approval Process: Step-by-Step Guide

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) permit is the legal approval a California city or county issues

Architectural floor plan blueprints with house keys, a pencil, and a tape measure resting on a wooden sawhorse table in front of an active timber-framed ADU under construction

How to Choose an ADU Contractor: Hiring & Build Process Guide

An ADU contractor is a licensed builder who designs, permits, and constructs accessory dwelling units on

A rolled set of architectural blueprints tied with twine and an extended metal tape measure resting on an outdoor table in front of a modern timber-clad backyard ADU at sunset

How Much Does an ADU Cost? Complete Breakdown & Budget Guide

An ADU in California typically costs $150,000 to $400,000 to build, depending on size, type, and

A contemporary wood-clad backyard ADU with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and clerestory lighting, situated next to a permeable grid paver driveway, drought-tolerant succulent landscaping, and a manicured green lawn at golden hour

ADU Parking Requirement & Site Layout Guide

Parking is the single most misunderstood part of ADU planning, and it stops more projects at