Contractor Certification

Certified builders for homes families can afford

GuestADU works with contractors who care about more than margin. We certify builders committed to quality construction, honest pricing, and real opportunity in the trades — so more Arizona families can get into a well-built home.

The need

Housing, affordability, and the trades meet here

Arizona needs more housing. Families need costs they can carry. The trades need steady work that builds skill and supports a household.

GuestADU exists at that intersection: clear design packages, a guided path through permitting, and builders willing to work with transparency instead of opacity.

Who this is for

Builders who want more good homes — honestly priced

This program is for contractors who want to compete on preparation and performance, not hidden markup.

  • Build efficient, code-quality ADUs, garages, and apartment-over-garage homes
  • Compete on preparation and performance, not hidden markup
  • Train crews and strengthen basic trades
  • Work openly with owners and the design team

If the goal is maximum “meat on the bones,” this is not the right fit. If the goal is more good homes, built well, at an honest cost — welcome.

The standard

Cost-plus 15%

Certified GuestADU contractors agree to a simple commercial model.

Commercial model

Cost of the work + 15%

With transparency among the owner, the builder, and the architect / design team. That keeps margin healthy enough to run a responsible company and invest in people — without pricing families out.

Cost-plus 15% is a certification participation standard — not a public guarantee of final construction cost or builder performance. Owners contract directly with builders.

What certification means

A values and performance standard

Certification is not just access to a portal. A GuestADU Certified Contractor commits to:

  1. Affordability

    Honest cost structure; no surprise-driven pricing.

  2. Transparency

    Clear cost and change communication among owner, builder, and design team.

  3. Quality

    Build to the released plan package and applicable code.

  4. Process

    Written changes; coordinated decisions.

  5. Trades

    Plan, prepare, and develop crew capability.

  6. Partnership

    Respect design intent and owner trust.

What certified contractors receive

Alignment, training, and a standard owners recognize

We do not guarantee project awards or volume. Certification earns preferred alignment with how Horizon Line projects run.

  • Project flow alignment

    Alignment with Horizon Line / GuestADU project flow — clear packages, sequencing, and coordination expectations.

  • Portal access when available

    Appropriate project portal access for drawings and coordination — when available for certified partners.

  • Package & field training

    Training on package delivery, sequencing, and common field issues.

  • Business development support

    Estimating discipline, crew planning, and client communication — so your company can grow responsibly.

  • A public standard

    Association with a standard owners can understand: quality, transparency, and honest cost.

How it works with owners

Owners still contract directly with the builder

GuestADU provides the design path, clarity, and coordination framework. Certification helps owners find builders willing to work the same way we do: openly, efficiently, and with the family's outcome in mind.

  • Not a substitute for your license or insurance

    Certification does not replace the builder's license, insurance, or the owner–builder construction contract.

  • Design packages stay design services

    Construction remains the builder's contract responsibility. GuestADU does not set market-wide contractor pricing or warrant construction outcomes.

Guiding question

How do we implement GuestADU so families get quality affordable homes while developing the trades and head-of-household jobs?

Every project, package, and partnership should answer that.

Get in touch

Interested in certification?

If your company is licensed, insured, and motivated by quality affordable housing — let's talk.

Already invited to intake? Continue your application. Prefer email? guestadu@lpd-az.com

We do not sell your information. Privacy Policy

Later option for certified contractors

White-label configuration licensing

Down the road, certified partners may optionally license a white-labeled or co-branded configuration experience for their own sites (illustrative tiers such as Basic ~$2,400/year and Premium ~$3,600/year). That is not the main pitch of certification — values and performance come first.

Build more homes. Build better trades. Keep costs honest.

GuestADU / Horizon Line — partner with us if that mission fits how you already want to build.