The Fair Rate Index ("the index," "we," "us") is published by Peaking Waters LLC, a North Carolina company, at fairrateindex.com. By reading, using, or submitting information to the site, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, the only request we'd make is that you not use the site — everything here is free to read regardless.
The index publishes modeled price ranges ("bands") for common home and auto trade tasks, built from public wage data, published material costs, standard task times, and a regional cost index, as described on the methodology page. Bands are independent estimates. We are not a contractor, we do not perform any of the work described on the site, and we do not broker, arrange, or take a fee on any job.
Nothing on the index is a quote, an offer, a bid, or a guarantee of what a specific job will cost. Actual costs vary with scope, site access, equipment age, permits, and local conditions that a model can't see. Always get a written estimate from a licensed professional before authorizing work.
If you submit an invoice or flag a rate, you're giving us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use that information — in aggregate, alongside other submissions — to calculate and publish price bands. We don't publish individual submissions, and we don't attach your name or any contractor's name to a submission when we display the resulting band.
You're responsible for the accuracy of what you submit. We reserve the right to reject, hold, or discard any submission we can't verify.
You agree not to:
Published bands, the JSON-LD on hub and state pages, and the public API are free to read, cite, and build on. If you display a band pulled from the site or the API, please attribute it to fairrateindex.com and note the model version, as described on the API page. The underlying site design, copy, and code remain the property of Peaking Waters LLC.
The index may link to third-party sites (data sources, trade organizations, and so on). We don't control those sites and aren't responsible for their content or practices.
The index is provided "as is," without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including accuracy, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. We work to keep the data current and correctly modeled, but we don't guarantee any published figure is complete, current, or error-free.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Peaking Waters LLC is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the index, including decisions made based on a published price band.
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
We may update these terms as the index evolves. Material changes will be reflected here with an updated effective date. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated terms.
Questions about these terms: nick@peakingwaters.com.