Why we built this
Building an ADU is legal and encouraged. Actually doing it is still confusing.
California made it far easier, legally, to add an ADU. But the real process is still hard: zoning rules differ by city, cost estimates are murky, and picturing the finished unit usually means hiring a designer.
Other ADU tools are built for tech-comfortable DIY researchers. We built ADU Made Simple for homeowners with the equity and the interest — but who'd rather not wrestle with a complicated website. Every screen uses large text, plain language, and one clear next step.
Grounded in real numbers
Our estimates start from a dataset of 10 real California ADU projects — ranging from $86 to $297 per square foot — not a made-up rule of thumb.
Estimates are directional (±20%) and depend on your site, finishes, and city.
How it works
Four checkpoints, one clear path
Dream It → Plan It → Build It → Live In It. Start anywhere. Your answers carry forward, so you never repeat yourself.
Dream It
Explore what's possible. Answer a few simple questions, pick a floor plan and style, and see an interior you can picture yourself in.
Available nowPlan It
Turn the dream into numbers. See a real cost range and whether the rental income would pay for itself — with the honest tradeoffs shown plainly.
Available nowBuild It
Turn the design into something buildable: a trade-by-trade scope of work and contractor bids you can compare side by side.
Available nowLive In It
Move in, welcome family, or rent it out — with the guidance to manage what you've built.
Coming soon
Built for you
Designed for homeowners 55+, not for computer experts
Our single most important rule: would this confuse or intimidate a first-time website user? If the answer is yes, we redesign it.
- Large, high-contrast text you can actually read
- No confusing typing — just sliders and simple choices
- One clear next step on every screen
- Honest tradeoffs, never just the rosy number
Simple pricing
Start free. Upgrade only if it's worth it to you.
Dreaming up your ADU is always free. Prices below are provisional while we finish testing.
Tier 2
- Everything in Free
- ~20 renderings / month
- Research & News alerts for your city
Tier 3
- Everything in Tier 2
- Plan It (Checkpoint 2): full ROI calculator
- Financing guidance & local rules
Three tiers, one honest promise: we show you the real tradeoffs, not just the number that looks best.
See what your backyard could become
It takes about two minutes, it's free, and there's nothing to install. Start dreaming.
Start free — Dream It
Proudly veteran owned and operated.