How we intend to vet, and what that will not mean

What we will check

• Business identity. That the business exists as a registered entity and that the name it trades under matches it.
• License status. Where the work requires a license, that one is held, current and in the right classification for ADU work.
• Service area. That they actually work where your property is.
• Insurance. Where evidence is available, that cover is in place.
• Relevant experience. That ADU work is something they do, rather than something they would be trying for the first time on your project.

What those checks prove — and what they do not

A license proves that someone met a state’s entry requirements and has not had the license revoked. It does not prove the quality of their work, that they will finish on time, or that they will be solvent next year.

That last point is not hypothetical. Our own research on how long ADU builders last found meaningful attrition among licensed builders. A current license is a snapshot of today, and your project is not finishing today.

Every check is a point in time. A license can lapse, insurance can be canceled and an entity can be dissolved the day after we look.

Why we do not publish "best ADU builder" lists

Because we cannot support the claim. Ranking named companies requires either a transparent, defensible methodology applied consistently, or it is an opinion dressed as a finding — and where a company pays for introductions, a ranking that includes it is a conflict of interest whether or not it is disclosed.

We would rather publish the enforcement record and let you read it. Our research on the enforcement record against ADU contractors and on who is named on California’s ADU permits is public evidence rather than our opinion.

What you should check yourself

1. Search the license number on the state board’s own site. Confirm status, classification, expiry and the exact entity name.
2. Ask for a current certificate of insurance, issued to you, showing general liability and workers' compensation.
3. Ask for ADU references in your jurisdiction, and call them.
4. Get every bid on the same set of drawings — our bid comparison worksheet exists because this is where homeowners most often lose money.
5. Read the contract’s change-order clause before you need it, not after.
6. Confirm who pulls the permit. If you are asked to pull it yourself as the owner-builder, understand what liability that moves onto you.

Conflicts we disclose

HyreADU expects to earn revenue in future by introducing homeowners to ADU professionals. It earns none today and charges homeowners nothing. When payment starts it will affect who receives an introduction; it will not affect the research, and no professional has any input into what we publish.

Read how it works for the full commercial picture, and about HyreADU for who publishes this.

Other common questions are answered in the ADU FAQ, and you can contact us with anything not covered.