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ADUs & Garage Conversions · Bay Area

A backyard home, from first sketch to final inspection.

An ADU can house family, earn rental income and add lasting value, but only if the feasibility, design and permits are done right. We check your lot, design the unit, get it through plan check and build it.

  • Typical: $180K – $450K+
  • Designed in 3D first
  • Permits handled
Start your ADU design Price your ADU
Detached ADU under construction with new siding, windows and a sliding door

What’s included

Everything, start to finish.

One contract and one project manager for the design, the permits and the build.

  • Lot & feasibility review
  • ADU design & 3D renderings
  • Permit-ready drawings
  • Utility & structural planning
  • Detached & attached ADUs
  • Garage conversions
  • Junior ADUs (JADUs)
  • Kitchens, baths & finishes
  • Landscape & access
Typical cost$180K – $450K+

Typical all-in range. Garage conversions sit at the lower end, attached ADUs in the middle, and new detached units at the top.

Full cost guide
Typical timeline8 – 20 weeks to permit

Typical Bay Area range from submittal to permit issuance, before construction begins.

Timeline guide
Licensed & insuredCSLB #1064699

Bonded and insured California general contractor with an A+ BBB rating.

Two workers sheathing the walls of a backyard ADUi

On the job

Built by the team that designed it.

The designer who drew your ADU works with the crew that builds it. One project manager runs the job from demolition to final inspection, keeps your home protected and clean, and keeps you updated.

Cost planner · ADUs & Garage ConversionsTypical $180K – $450K+

Set the size and finish level for your ADU and see a planning range in about a minute.

Price your ADU

Gallery

ADUs & Garage Conversions by Clever.

Real Clever projects from around the Bay Area. Tap any photo to enlarge.

Options

Four ways to add an ADU.

We’ll help you pick the right type for your lot, budget and goals.

Detached

A separate backyard home. The most flexibility, the highest budget.

Attached

Shares a wall with the main house, often a middle-ground cost.

Garage conversion

Reuses an existing structure, typically the most affordable route.

Junior ADU

Up to 500 sq ft carved out of the existing home.

The Clever method

Design, permit and build: one team.

The same five steps on every project, so you always know what happens next.

  1. A designer measuring a dated kitchen with a laser measure as the homeowner points out a soffiti
    01Free consultation

    We talk through your goals, your home and your budget, in person or by phone. Free, with no obligation.

    You get a clear scope and an honest budget range.

  2. A designer showing a homeowner couple a 3D rendering of their kitchen on a laptop
    02Design in 3D

    Our designers create floor plans and full 3D renderings of your space, so you can see it and change it before anything is torn out.

    You get floor plans and 3D renderings you approve.

  3. A project manager, designer and structural engineer reviewing plans on site
    03Engineering & permits

    Our engineers work alongside the designers, and we prepare the drawings and manage permitting for you.

    You get permit-ready drawings, and we handle the city.

  4. Two carpenters hanging white shaker upper cabinets in a kitchen remodel
    04Build

    Our crews build what you approved, with one project manager keeping you updated from demolition to inspection.

    You get one project manager and a protected, tidy home.

  5. A project manager showing homeowners their finished kitchen on the final walkthrough
    05Finish & walkthrough

    We clean up, handle touch-ups and final inspection, and walk through everything with you to make sure you’re thrilled.

    You get final inspection, touch-ups and a walkthrough.

Reviews

What homeowners say.

5.0Google20 reviews →5.0Yelp54 reviews →5.0Houzz60 reviews →A+BBBAccredited business →
★★★★★

Our kitchen remodel and whole-house paint

We hired Clever Design And Remodeling to remodel our kitchen and paint the entire house in San Mateo. Gili was our project manager, and the experience was amazing! He did so much for us, from choosing all the materials to the perfect 3D design the team did for us. They finished our project on schedule, with minimum hassle for us. He promised us, in the beginning, to stay within our budget, and we certainly did!

Meril H.San Mateo, CA
★★★★★

A full house renovation

I just finished a full house renovation with Clever, and I am thrilled with the results! They were super easy to work with, even though I had some changes along the way. The design and planning process was surprisingly smooth, and I love the finishes.

Eliya A.South San Francisco, CA
★★★★★

My parents' kitchen and bathroom

I had a great experience with Clever during my parent's kitchen and bathroom renovation. They could answer all of our questions with knowledge and expertise and eased my mother's anxiety about making such significant changes to their longtime residence. These guys made everything easy for us but kept us in the loop.

Josie B.Menlo Park, CA

FAQ

ADUs & Garage Conversions questions.

How much does an ADU cost in the Bay Area?

Most Bay Area ADUs land between about $180,000 and $450,000+ all-in. Garage conversions with usable structure and accessible utilities sit at the low end, attached ADUs in the middle, and new detached units at the top.

How long do ADU permits take?

A realistic range is about 8 to 20 weeks from submittal to permit, depending on the city, the project and how complete the drawing set is. Permit-ready drawings and a pre-check up front shorten the correction cycles.

Can my garage become an ADU?

Often, yes. It's usually the most affordable path, but foundation, ceiling height, utilities and setbacks all matter. Use our feasibility checklist, or have us review it at your consultation.

Is an ADU worth it?

For many Bay Area homeowners, yes: as rental income, housing for family, or added property value. Our guide covers the numbers.

Guides

Plan your adu project

ADUs & Garage Conversions by city

Free design consultation

Talk to a designer about your ADU.

Free, no-obligation design consultation. Answer a few quick questions and a Clever designer will call to set it up.

  1. Tell us about the projectTwo minutes: what you’re planning, where, when and roughly what budget.
  2. Meet a designerA free consultation at your home or by phone, to understand the space and your goals.
  3. See it in 3DFloor plans and 3D renderings you can change before anything is built, with a written price.

Prefer to talk? (669) 309-5454Licensed, bonded & insured · CSLB #1064699

Get your free consultation

Tell us a little about your project. There’s no cost and no obligation.

Or call (669) 309-5454
(669) 309-5454Start your design