Affiliate Disclosure
The Dwelling Index is an independent, reader-supported publication. We earn revenue through affiliate partnerships with some of the companies and services referenced on this site. This page explains how those relationships work and what they mean for readers.
How Affiliate Links Work
Some links on The Dwelling Index are affiliate links. If you click one of these links and take a qualifying action — such as requesting information, requesting a quote, applying for financing, or purchasing a product or service — we may earn a referral commission from the company.
That commission is paid by the company, not by you. In general, using an affiliate link does not increase the price you pay.
Where Disclosures Appear
We aim to disclose affiliate relationships clearly and in context.
When a page contains affiliate links or affiliate-related calls to action, we place disclosure language on that page so readers can see it before or near the relevant link, button, comparison table, or recommendation section.
We do not rely solely on a footer link or this page alone to disclose affiliate relationships.
What Affiliate Revenue Supports
Affiliate revenue helps support the research, publishing, and maintenance of The Dwelling Index.
That includes the time and resources required to:
- Research ADU laws, zoning, and permitting topics
- Review financing programs and agency guidance
- Analyze cost data and pricing claims
- Evaluate prefab and service companies
- Update content as laws, pricing, and market conditions change
Affiliate revenue supports our operations, but it does not determine our editorial conclusions.
What Affiliate Relationships Do Not Influence
Affiliate relationships do not determine:
- What we cover
- Which companies are included in editorial comparisons
- How companies are evaluated
- How companies rank in our guides
- Whether we publish criticism, limitations, or negative findings
- Whether a company is removed from coverage or not recommended
No company can pay to:
- Receive favorable editorial treatment
- Rank higher in a comparison
- Be included in a guide solely because of a commercial relationship
- Suppress criticism or avoid negative editorial findings
Our editorial standards apply whether or not a company has an affiliate relationship with us.
No Pay-to-Play Rankings
The Dwelling Index does not sell rankings or disguise paid promotion as independent editorial judgment.
If a company appears in a comparison, guide, or recommendation, that inclusion is governed by our editorial process and research standards — not by whether the company pays us a commission.
A company with no affiliate relationship may still be included in editorial content. A company with an affiliate relationship may still rank poorly, be criticized, or be excluded from a guide if the evidence does not support inclusion.
Sponsored Placements
If we ever publish paid placements, featured partner placements, or other sponsored promotional units, they will be labeled clearly as Sponsored, Featured Partner, or similar language that distinguishes them from editorial content.
Sponsored placement does not determine our editorial rankings, research conclusions, or independent coverage.
Separation of Editorial and Commercial Decisions
Editorial and commercial functions are kept separate.
Editorial decisions include
- What topics to cover
- What claims require verification
- How companies are evaluated
- How rankings and comparisons are structured
- What conclusions are supported by the evidence
Commercial decisions include
- Which affiliate partnerships to pursue
- Operational business relationships
- Where affiliate links may appear within the limits of our editorial standards
Commercial relationships do not control editorial conclusions. Affiliate partners are not given editorial approval rights, advance review rights, or the ability to influence our rankings or recommendations.
How We Evaluate Companies
An affiliate relationship alone is not enough for editorial inclusion.
Companies discussed on The Dwelling Index may be evaluated under our editorial process and, where relevant, our partner vetting process. We may consider factors such as pricing transparency, service-area clarity, public-facing policies, business credibility, and other homeowner-relevant criteria.
Affiliate status does not override these standards.
Important Note for Readers
An affiliate relationship does not mean a company is the right fit for every reader or project.
Readers should still conduct their own due diligence before moving forward with any lender, builder, prefab company, or service provider. Depending on the situation, that may include comparing multiple providers, reviewing written terms, confirming licensing, checking service availability, and verifying costs directly.
Contact
Questions about this disclosure: editorial@dwellingindex.com