About aduregister

aduregister.com is a directory of Seattle ADU builders, ranked by verified building-permit records rather than reviews, advertising spend, or self-reported claims.

Why permits, not reviews

Reviews can be bought, gamed, or written by friends and family. A building permit can't. Every builder listed here has their ranking built from permits filed with the City of Seattle - a public record of ADUs they've actually built, not a marketing claim. We also check each builder's state contractor license status, so you can see not just how much a builder has built, but whether their license is currently active.

That's the whole premise: instead of asking "who says they're good," we ask "who has the public record of having actually done the work."

How a listing gets built

Every builder on this site is here because their name appears on real Seattle ADU permits, cross-checked against the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries contractor license registry. We update this periodically as new permits are filed and as license status changes, so the information stays current rather than frozen at the moment a listing was created.

We don't independently verify quality of work, customer service, or pricing - permit history tells you who's experienced and legally licensed, not who's the best fit for your project. Use it as a starting point for your own research, not the final word.

Unclaimed vs. claimed listings

Most builders on this site haven't set up an account - their listing is built entirely from public data, and they may not even know it exists yet. If you're a builder and you find your business listed, you're welcome to claim it for free: add a description, photos of your work, and correct any contact details we have wrong. Claiming a listing never changes your verified permit count or your ranking - that stays tied to the public record, for everyone, whether claimed or not.

What money can and can't buy here

Some listings may eventually be able to pay for additional visibility - a "Featured" placement, clearly labeled as such. That placement is always separate from and clearly distinguished from the ranking itself. Nobody can pay to change their verified permit count, their position in the organic ranking, or their license status. That's a hard line, not a policy we might revisit - it's the entire reason this directory is worth using.

Who's behind this

aduregister.com is an independently run directory, not a builder, contractor, or real estate company. We have no financial relationship with any builder's ranking - only, optionally, with a builder's visibility through a clearly labeled Featured placement, when that exists.

Questions, corrections, or concerns - reach out any time at [email protected], or see our Contact page.

— Sam Hartley