The Grade finances, builds, and rents your basement apartment — you own the asset, collect the income, and never write a check. Most homeowners net $500–$800/month after the loan payment.
$0
Out of pocket
30 Days
Renter placement
Fixed Rate
Private lending
How The Grade Works
01
You Qualify
Check your rate in 2 minutes — no hard credit pull. See your projected monthly surplus before committing.
02
We Build
Our licensed contractors finish your basement to rental-ready standards. Typical build: 8–10 weeks.
03
We Place a Renter
We screen and place a qualified tenant within 30 days of completion — guaranteed.
04
You Collect
Rent hits your account monthly. We handle property management for 9% of gross rent.
Licensed & Insured Utah Contractor
30-Day Renter Placement Guarantee
Fixed-Rate Private Lending
Full Property Management Included
Why The Grade
You own the asset. We do the work.
01
Full Build, Full Service
Design, permitting, construction, and finish — all handled by our team. You approve the plan and stay out of the way.
02
Income From Day One
Rent starts covering your loan payment the month your renter moves in. The surplus is yours, every month.
03
Your Equity Grows
Every payment reduces your loan balance while your home value increases. You keep the spread — and the basement.
04
Protected at Every Step
Fixed rate, fixed payment. Builder's risk insurance through construction. Thorough renter screening before move-in.
05
Hands-Off Management
9% covers maintenance coordination, rent collection, and renter communication. You receive a clean monthly statement.
06
Clean Exit Anytime
Sell or refinance at any time. No prepayment penalties. The finished basement adds resale value, not complications.
Real Numbers
See what your basement earns.
A real deal breakdown — 900 sq ft basement in Utah, financed over 5 years. Here's exactly what the homeowner walks away with.
Deal Illustration — Utah County
Build cost (900 sq ft × $35)
$31,500
Loan term & rate
Fixed — contact us
Monthly loan payment
$687
Monthly rent collected
$1,350
Management fee (9%)
–$122
Monthly net surplus
+$541
5-year total surplus
$32,460
Illustrative only. Actual figures vary by home size, market rents, and loan terms. Not a commitment to lend.
Homeowners
Built for Utah homeowners.
001
We had a half-finished basement collecting junk for six years. The Grade had it rented in less than four months from our first call. We now clear $600 a month we never had before.
Sarah M.
Lehi, Utah
002
I was skeptical about the zero out-of-pocket claim. But the numbers worked exactly as they explained. The loan payment is $640, rent is $1,300, and I keep the rest.
Derek T.
Springville, Utah
003
They handled everything — permits, construction, finding a renter. I had one walkthrough and one signing. That was it. The whole thing was shockingly hands-off.
Amanda & Josh K.
Spanish Fork, Utah
Ready to unlock your basement?
Check your rate in 2 minutes. No hard credit pull. No obligation.
The Process
Simple by design. Profitable by default.
From your first call to your first rent check — here's exactly what to expect at every step.
01
Qualify
Run Your Numbers
It starts with a 2-minute pre-qualification — no hard credit pull. Tell us about your home, your basement, and your goals. We'll show you a projected monthly surplus before you commit to anything.
—Soft inquiry only — no impact to your credit score
—See exact loan payment, projected rent, and net surplus
—Same-day response from a Grade specialist
02
Site Walk
Site Walk & Build Plan
A Grade contractor visits your home to assess the space, confirm the build scope, and design a rental unit that maximizes your monthly rent. You approve every detail before we break ground.
—Free on-site assessment — no cost until you sign
—Detailed floor plan and finish schedule provided
—Permitting handled entirely by our team
03
Funding
Loan Closes — Build Begins
Once approved, our lending partner funds the project directly. You never touch the money. Funds are disbursed at construction milestones, and your loan doesn't start until the build is complete.
—Fixed rate, fixed term — no variable rate surprises
—Secured by 2nd lien deed of trust on your property
—Loan payments begin only after renter is placed
04
Construction
Construction (8–10 Weeks)
Our licensed Utah contractors build your unit to rental-ready standard — framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, insulation, drywall, flooring, kitchen, bathroom, and a dedicated entry. You get weekly progress updates.
—Licensed, bonded, insured crew — builder's risk policy active
—All work to Utah residential code — licensed inspector sign-off
—Weekly photo updates sent directly to you
05
Placement
Renter Placed in 30 Days
The Grade handles listing, screening, and leasing. We run credit, background, and employment checks on every applicant. Most units are rented within 2–3 weeks of completion.
—Full tenant screening — credit, background, income verification
—Lease drafted and executed by our team
—30-day placement guarantee from completion date
06
Income
You Collect. We Manage.
Rent lands in your account every month. The Grade handles all property management — maintenance requests, lease renewals, and renter communication — for 9% of gross rent.
—Monthly statement and direct deposit
—24-hour maintenance coordination included
—Annual rent review to keep pace with market
Eligibility
Do you qualify?
Most Utah homeowners with an unfinished basement are eligible. Here are the four things we look for.
01
You own your home
Primary residence or investment property in Utah. Must have at least 20% equity after the projected build cost.
02
Unfinished basement
At least 600 sq ft of buildable space with 7'+ ceiling height and an accessible entry — existing or addable.
03
Credit score 640+
Private lending qualification requirement. Exceptions considered case-by-case for strong equity positions.
04
Utah property
We currently operate throughout Utah County, Salt Lake County, and surrounding Wasatch Front communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you want to know.
For Homeowners
How is this different from a HELOC or refinance?
+
A HELOC pulls from your existing equity and puts you on the hook for payments whether or not the project generates income. The Grade uses private lending structured specifically for this buildout — and your payments don't begin until your renter is in place. You're not borrowing against your home to fund a renovation. You're financing an income-generating asset that pays for itself.
What if my renter stops paying?
+
We screen every renter thoroughly — credit, background, income verification. In the rare event of a non-paying renter, our property management team handles the eviction process at no extra cost to you. We work to place a replacement renter as quickly as possible.
Can I sell my home while the loan is outstanding?
+
Yes. You can sell at any time — the loan is paid off from sale proceeds at closing, just like a mortgage. There are no prepayment penalties. The finished basement also adds substantial resale value, often exceeding the outstanding loan balance.
How long does the entire process take?
+
From first call to renter in place: approximately 16–20 weeks. Pre-qual and loan approval: 2–3 weeks. Construction: 8–10 weeks. Renter placement: 2–4 weeks after completion.
Do I have any say in who rents my basement?
+
Yes. You'll receive a summary of every qualified applicant before placement — including income, background check results, and rental history. You have final approval on who moves in. We handle the logistics; you make the call.
What does the finished unit actually look like?
+
A fully code-compliant, rental-grade apartment — typically 1 or 2 bedrooms, a full bathroom, a kitchen or kitchenette, living space, and a separate entry. Finishes are clean and durable: LVP flooring, painted drywall, standard cabinetry, and all appliances included.
Get In Touch
Let's talk about your basement.
We respond to every inquiry within one business day. If you're ready to run your numbers, the fastest path is the rate check below.
Send Us a Message
We're a phone call away.
The Grade team is based in Utah County. We meet with every prospective homeowner before committing to a project.
Phone
385-312-2530
Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm MT
Email
dylan@thegradebuild.com
Responds within 1 business day
Service Area
Utah County & Salt Lake County
Wasatch Front and surrounding areas
Ready to run your numbers?
Internal • grade2026
Internal Tool
Quote Builder
For Grade sales reps only.
Live Summary
Build cost—
Monthly payment—
Monthly rent—
Monthly surplus—
Term surplus—
Build Tier
Egress
Dedicated egress entry/exit needed
Client already has a dedicated entrance — no additional cost
For internal use only. This quote is illustrative and does not constitute a commitment to lend. Final loan terms subject to underwriting approval.
The Grade
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Internal • grade2026
The Grade — Deal Analyzer
Finance Team · Internal
Deal Structure
Loan Amount $40,000
Loan Term 5 years
2 yr
3 yr
4 yr
5 yr
6 yr
7 yr
Homeowner Rate 12.0%
Investor Rate (paid out) 10.0%
Monthly Rent (homeowner) $1,350
Builder Economics
Builder Upcharge 20%
Builder Profit Share to Grade 20%
% of builder upcharge shared back to Grade
Commissions
Grade Origination Fee 2.0%
Fixed at 2% of loan amount
Finder / Closer Commission 4.0%
3% smaller deals → 6% larger deals
Under-Budget Scenario
Build came in under budget
Toggle to model surplus distribution
Build Savings (under budget) $2,000
Grade Share of Savings 50%
Remainder goes to builder
Profitability Scale — All Parties
The Grade
—
Builder
—
Investor
—
Finder/Closer
—
The Grade — Total P&L
Total earned over term
—
Origination (2%)—
Builder profit share—
Interest spread (monthly)—
Interest spread (total term)—
Mgmt fees (total term)—
Under-budget share—
Finder commission (out)—
Net margin on deal—
Builder — Economics
Builder net profit
—
Actual build cost—
Total upcharge earned—
Upcharge % of loan—
Shared back to Grade—
Under-budget share—
Builder net margin—
Investor — Returns
Total interest earned
—
Capital deployed—
Annual rate (paid out)—
Monthly payment to investor—
Total interest over term—
Total return on capital—
Finder / Closer — Commission
Total commission earned
—
Commission rate—
Commission on loan amount—
Paid atLoan close
% of loan amount—
Money Flow — Full Deal Lifecycle
Cumulative Earnings Over Term
How each party's total earnings accumulate month by month
The Grade
Builder
Investor
Finder/Closer
For internal finance team use only. All figures are projections based on current inputs and do not constitute guarantees. Actual deal economics will vary. Not for distribution to homeowners, investors, or external parties.