Where the numbers come from.
A price you can't check is just another quote. Every input into the index is named here, so anyone can trace a band back to where it came from — no proprietary panel, no black box.
Five inputs, fully named.
Wage data
Occupational wage statistics by trade and metro area, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, loaded with the overhead a licensed shop carries on top of the wage — truck, insurance, license, and unbillable hours.
Updated annuallyParts & material pricing
Published distributor and retail pricing for the parts and materials a licensed pro actually installs, at professional grade — not the cheapest listing and not the premium one.
Updated quarterlyStandard task times
Published estimating references used across the trades for how long a given task typically takes a licensed professional, adjusted where field data disagrees with the book number.
Reviewed per model versionRegional cost index
A published state and metro cost multiplier that moves the national baseline to a given ZIP — construction cost and cost-of-living indices, applied uniformly.
Updated annuallyVerified homeowner invoices
What people actually paid, submitted with the job, the state, and the amount — no account and no contractor named. Verified submissions are the only input that pulls a band directly, rather than through the model.
ContinuousWhat is not a source
- Contractor self-reported rates or rate cards
- Forum posts, anecdotes, or unverifiable social claims
- Unverified invoice submissions — these are held out of the band until checked
- Any single company's internal pricing data