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Which ADU should you build?

Five quick questions about your lot, budget and goals. You'll get a recommendation with honest tradeoffs — including what it typically costs and what the runner-up would be — based on the same published ranges we show every homeowner.

Question 1 of 5
Your best fit
Typical Cost
Est. Rent
Value Added
Why this fits your answers
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    This is a recommendation from five answers — not a property review. What you can actually build depends on your lot, your city's zoning, and your budget in detail. Cost, rent and value ranges are general Southern California market estimates for planning purposes only, not quotes or guarantees.

    How this works: your answers score each ADU type on fit — lot situation, budget alignment against our published typical-cost ranges, goal, timeline, and privacy preference. The ranges shown come from the same cost education table used across this site; the 500 sq ft JADU limit and conversion rules come from California state ADU law. Nothing here is a quote, and no answers are stored or sent anywhere.

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    Send your results to a real Southern California ADU advisor and we'll follow up with a straight read on whether it makes sense for your property — free, no obligation, and we never spam you.

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    How the quiz picks a type for you

    It weighs three things: how much lot space you have, your budget, and what you want the unit to do. A larger lot and a rental goal point toward a detached unit; a tighter budget or a faster timeline often points to a garage conversion or a Junior ADU; housing family with some independence leans attached. Each type trades cost, timeline, and independence differently — there's rarely one right answer, just the one that fits your situation best.

    The quiz is a fast starting point, not a substitute for checking your actual lot. Compare the types side by side on the ADU types page, get a budget range with the cost estimator, or have us look at your specific property with a free review — including an honest read on whether an ADU is a fit at all.

    This quiz is a general educational guide, not a recommendation for your specific property or a guarantee of what your city will approve.

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    A free property review looks at your actual lot and city rules — and we'll tell you honestly if an ADU isn't a good fit yet.

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