The Dwelling Index is an independent, reader-supported resource. We earn revenue through affiliate partnerships with companies whose products and services we cover in our guides. This page explains how those partnerships work and what they mean for you.
Some links on The Dwelling Index are affiliate links. When you click one of these links and take an action — such as requesting a quote, applying for financing, or purchasing a product — the company may pay us a referral commission. This commission comes from the company, not from you. Clicking an affiliate link does not change the price you pay.
Every page that contains affiliate links includes a disclosure statement before or near the first affiliate link. On pages with comparison tables, ranked lists, or pricing-request buttons, we also place disclosure language near those sections so readers see it before clicking. We do not rely on footer-only or separate-page disclosures.
Revenue from affiliate partnerships directly supports the research and editorial operations of The Dwelling Index. It funds the time our editorial team spends reading legislation, verifying cost data, analyzing financing programs, and reviewing prefab ADU companies. Without affiliate revenue, this resource would not exist in its current form.
If The Dwelling Index ever includes a paid featured placement, it will be clearly labeled as Sponsored or Featured Partner and displayed separately from editorial recommendations. Sponsored placement does not determine our editorial rankings or inclusion decisions.
The editorial team makes content decisions. The business side manages affiliate relationships. These functions operate independently. Editorial staff are never compensated based on affiliate revenue, and affiliate partners are never given editorial input or advance review of content.
For more detail on how we maintain editorial independence, see our editorial standards.