# GreatBuildz > GreatBuildz is a free service that matches California homeowners with vetted general contractors for remodels, ADUs, additions and new home builds. A Remodeling Advisor hand-picks up to three contractors for each project, usually within 24 to 48 hours, and stays involved until the job is done. GreatBuildz was founded in 2019 by Jon Grishpul and Paul Dashevsky and is based in Los Angeles. It is not a contractor and does not do construction work. Homeowners sign contracts and make payments directly with the contractor they choose. Key facts: - Free for homeowners. Contractors pay a success fee only when a homeowner hires them, and GreatBuildz is not paid in full until the project is finished to the homeowner's satisfaction. - Contractors never pay to join the network or to be placed in front of homeowners, and GreatBuildz never sells homeowner information as leads. - The network is invite-only. Screening covers license and insurance checks, five or more years in business, calls to past clients, an owner interview and a criminal background check. Fewer than 5% of contractors evaluated make it in. - Since 2019 GreatBuildz has evaluated more than 20,000 California contractors and helped more than 2,000 homeowners. - Typical projects start at $15,000: kitchen and bathroom remodels, ADUs (accessory dwelling units, also called granny flats or backyard homes), garage conversions, room additions, whole-house remodels, backyard and pool projects, new home construction, fire rebuilds and insurance claim repairs. - Service area: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Ventura counties, the Inland Empire and Santa Barbara in Southern California, plus the Bay Area and Sacramento. - Contact: call or text 888-668-2454, or start online at https://www.greatbuildz.com/find-a-contractor/ ## Get matched with a contractor - [Find a contractor](https://www.greatbuildz.com/find-a-contractor/): Start a free match with licensed, vetted contractors near you. - [How contractor vetting works](https://www.greatbuildz.com/contractor-vetting/): The screening steps and the code of conduct every contractor agrees to. - [Your Remodeling Advisor](https://www.greatbuildz.com/your-personal-remodeling-advisor/): What the advisor does, from budget advice and bid review to help if a problem comes up on site. - [About GreatBuildz](https://www.greatbuildz.com/about-us/): Founders, how the service works and how it keeps contractor quality high after the match. - [FAQ](https://www.greatbuildz.com/faq/): Cost, how GreatBuildz makes money, service area and what kinds of projects fit. - [For contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/for-contractors/): How contractors apply to join the network. ## Services (Los Angeles and California) - [Kitchen remodeling contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/kitchen-contractors/) - [Bathroom remodeling contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/bathroom-remodeling-los-angeles/) - [ADU contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/adu-contractors-in-los-angeles/): ADU costs, timelines and how to choose a builder in Los Angeles. A new detached ADU there typically costs $150,000 to $400,000 (about $300 to $450 per square foot), and a garage conversion $120,000 to $150,000. - [Garage conversion contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/find-the-best-garage-conversion-contractors-in-los-angeles/) - [Home addition contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/room-addition-contractors-in-los-angeles/) - [Whole house remodel contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/whole-house-remodel-contractors-in-los-angeles/) - [Home remodeling contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/home-remodeling-contractors-in-los-angeles/) - [Backyard and patio contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/backyard-remodeling-contractors-in-los-angeles/) - [Home builders (new construction)](https://www.greatbuildz.com/best-home-builders-in-los-angeles/) - [Insurance claim contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/home-insurance-claim-contractors/) - [LA fires: free contractor vetting](https://www.greatbuildz.com/la-fires-free-contractor-vetting/): Free vetting for homeowners rebuilding after the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires. ## Service areas - [All California service areas](https://www.greatbuildz.com/service-area/) - [Los Angeles County](https://www.greatbuildz.com/service-area/la-county/) - [Orange County](https://www.greatbuildz.com/service-area/orange-county/) - [San Diego County](https://www.greatbuildz.com/service-area/san-diego-general-contractors/) - [Ventura County](https://www.greatbuildz.com/service-area/ventura-county/) - [Inland Empire](https://www.greatbuildz.com/service-area/inland-empire-general-contractors/) - [Santa Barbara](https://www.greatbuildz.com/service-area/santa-barbara-general-contractors/) - [Bay Area](https://www.greatbuildz.com/service-area/bay-area/) - [Sacramento](https://www.greatbuildz.com/service-area/sacramento-general-contractors/) ## Free tools - [BidCompare AI](https://www.greatbuildz.com/bidcompare-ai/): Upload 2 to 6 contractor bids and get a side-by-side comparison by email, usually in about 5 minutes. Free for homeowners. - [Bathroom remodel cost calculator](https://www.greatbuildz.com/bathroom-remodel-cost-calculator/): Estimate a bathroom remodel in a few minutes, no signup. ## Costs in Los Angeles (as published on greatbuildz.com) - [Bathroom remodel cost in Los Angeles](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/los-angeles-bathroom-remodel-costs-tips/): Most run $20,000 to $60,000, and a standard hall bath is about $25,000 to $30,000. - [Kitchen remodel cost in Los Angeles](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/cost-to-remodel-a-kitchen-los-angeles/): Typically $50,000 to $75,000. Plan a 10 to 20 percent contingency. - [ADU cost in Los Angeles](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/cost-to-build-an-adu-in-los-angeles/) - [Cost to rebuild a home in Altadena](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/cost-to-build-a-home-in-altadena-in-2025/): Fire rebuilds typically run $400 to $500 per square foot. - [Hidden remodeling costs](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/10-hidden-costs-remodeling-your-home/) - [Home renovation budget checklist](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/home-renovation-budget-checklist/) ## Guides: hiring and working with contractors - [How GreatBuildz vets contractors](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/how-greatbuildz-vets-contractors/) - [How to check a contractor's license in California](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/find-licensed-contractor-los-angeles/) - [Questions to ask contractor references](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/questions-to-ask-contractor-references/) - [Should you hire the cheapest contractor?](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/should-i-hire-the-cheapest-contractor/) - [How to spot a bad contractor](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/how-to-spot-bad-contractor-part-1/) - [How to avoid being ripped off by a contractor](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/avoid-being-ripped-off-by-a-contractor/) - [What to do when a contractor ghosts you](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/contractor-ghosted-you-heres-what-to-do/) - [When to fire your remodeling contractor](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/when-to-fire-your-remodeling-contractor/) ## Guides: ADUs and California rules - [New California ADU laws](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/new-california-adu-laws/) - [Legalizing an unpermitted ADU under AB 2533](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/legalizing-your-unpermitted-adu-ab2533/) - [Building an ADU above a garage](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/building-adu-above-garage/) - [Prefab ADU vs. stick-built ADU](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/prefab-adu-vs-stick-built-comparison/) ## Guides: fire rebuilds - [How long it takes to rebuild a home in Altadena](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/how-long-does-rebuild-a-home-in-altadena/) - [Recovering after the Eaton Fire](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/guide-to-recovering-after-eaton-fire/) - [Recovering after the Palisades Fire](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/guide-recovering-after-the-palisades-fire/) ## Optional - [GreatBuildz Guide (blog)](https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/): All remodeling articles. - [Completed projects](https://www.greatbuildz.com/completed-projects/): Kitchens, bathrooms, ADUs and full home remodels by contractors in the network. - [Press coverage](https://www.greatbuildz.com/about-us/press-page/) - [Jon Grishpul, co-founder](https://www.greatbuildz.com/author/jon-grishpul/) - [Contact](https://www.greatbuildz.com/contact-us/) - [Sitemap](https://www.greatbuildz.com/sitemap_index.xml)