Why Every Contractor Should Be Building ADUs Right Now

Custom homes take forever. Small bathroom jobs keep you busy but don't pay much. ADUs sit right in the middle. Bigger tickets than a kitchen, faster than a whole house, and homeowners are asking for them in more states every year.

I made a video on this. Watch it above, or read the short version below.

The market is real now

This isn't a California thing anymore.

• ADU permits went from 4,962 in 2016 to 61,655 in 2025 nationwide, according to Pew's October 2026 analysis.
• 22 states had laws making local towns allow ADUs as of August 2026, per the same report.
• ADUs are now about 7% of all residential building permits in the US, per Cotality.

When states change the law, homeowners start asking. The builders they find first get the jobs.

Why ADUs fit a builder's business

An ADU is a whole small house. Foundation, framing, plumbing, electric, HVAC, finishes. If you build custom homes or big remodels, you already have the crew and the subs.

The money is better than small remodels too. In most of the 10 states we track, a 750 square foot detached ADU runs $200,000 or more all in, per the ADU Wizard 2026 cost guide. One job like that can be worth more than a dozen bathrooms.

Do these 3 things before you spend a dollar

1. Know what you'd build and what you'd charge

Detached, attached, garage conversion or basement unit? Pick what you're good at. Then figure out your real price range. Homeowners want a number, not "it depends."

2. Put it on your website

Say what you build, where you work, if you handle design and permits, and a realistic budget range. A homeowner who reads that before the call is already sold on the basics. The ones who can't afford it won't call. That's a good thing.

3. Check your market

Is it legal in your area? Are people searching for it? Who's already advertising? We put the law, the search demand and what a Google click costs for 10 states on one page each. Start at ADU builders and pick your state.

Why most builders still aren't doing it

It's not the building. It's the leads. Most ADU inquiries are dreamers. They saw a video and want a price. Without a way to screen them, you burn hours on site visits that go nowhere.

That's the part we fix. Ads that say what homeowners in your area actually call it (casita in Arizona, in law apartment in New England, DADU in Seattle), a call rep who checks budget, financing and timeline, and only the ready ones get booked.

Want to know if your market is open?

We run Meta ads for one ADU builder per market. Our call rep screens every lead, and the homeowners with a budget and a plan land on your calendar. Book a 15 minute call and we'll tell you if there's room in your area. Book a call.