Basement ADU vs Standard Finish

Should you build a legal rental apartment or a family space? Here is the honest comparison.

Standard Finish

Lower cost ($25-$50/sqft), fewer regulations, faster timeline (4-6 weeks). No rental income.

ADU

$1,400-$1,900/month rental income, 15-20% equity boost. Higher cost ($50-$65/sqft), Code 14.30 compliance, longer timeline.

Our Recommendation

If your property qualifies for an ADU, the ROI is unbeatable. For family space, standard finish delivers 90% of the benefit at 60% of the cost. Use our ADU ROI calculator.

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