The short version
United Build Partners is compensated by the contractors in our network. When we introduce a homeowner we've reviewed to a matched contractor, that contractor pays UBP a set fee for the introductory walkthrough, plus a success fee if the homeowner chooses to hire them. Homeowners don't receive a UBP invoice for the property review or the introductions, and there's no obligation to move forward with anyone we introduce. Participating contractors remain independent businesses: they determine their own pricing, issue their own proposals and contracts, and are solely responsible for their own work.
Why this matters for you — not just for us
Who pays a company shapes whose interests it serves. Because contractors pay us for good, ready, well-matched introductions, our incentive is to send them homeowners who are genuinely a fit — not to sell your contact details to as many companies as possible. That single fact changes everything about how we treat you.
Where the money actually comes from
The whole picture, in plain terms
Homeowners don't pay UBP directly. There's no UBP invoice for the preliminary property review or the contractor introductions, and no obligation to hire anyone we introduce.
Contractors pay us a set fee for an introductory walkthrough with a homeowner we've reviewed and matched to them, plus a success fee if that homeowner decides to hire them. That's the entire business model.
That's it. No selling your data, no upsells, no "premium" homeowner tier, no hidden UBP fees surfacing later — and contractors price their own projects independently.
What actually happens the day you contact us
When you submit a property review, a real advisor looks at it. If an ADU looks like a realistic fit for your lot and goals, your information may be shared with up to three licensed contractors suited to your project — and only them. They may reach out to discuss it and, if it makes sense, arrange a walkthrough. You're never obligated to hire anyone we introduce, and if it isn't a fit yet, we'll tell you why instead of passing you along anyway. Your details are never posted to a public list or sold. When you're ready, our bid-comparison guide and contractor red-flags checklist help you choose well.
Frequently asked questions
There's no catch. Homeowners do not pay United Build Partners directly for the preliminary property review or the contractor introductions, and there's no obligation to hire anyone we introduce. Our compensation comes from the participating contractors in our network, who pay us for introductions to homeowners we've reviewed and matched — and who independently determine their own project pricing. That model only works if the introductions are genuinely good, which is exactly why we screen both sides.
No. Your details are shared only with the up-to-three matched contractors suited to your specific project — never posted to a public list, never sold to data brokers, never blasted to a dozen companies. See our Privacy Policy for the specifics.
Those platforms generally sell your contact information to many contractors who then compete to reach you — which is why your phone rings off the hook after you submit. We review your project first, introduce you to a short, matched list of up to three, and you keep one dedicated advisor throughout. We're paid for quality introductions, not for volume.
No. Contractors can't buy better placement or jump the line. Every contractor in the network clears the same screening, and matches are based on your project type and location — not on who pays the most. The fee a contractor pays is the same whether they're first on your list or third.