Editorial Policy

Last updated: May 10, 2026

This page documents how InsiderCost researches and publishes cost data — the standards we hold ourselves to and the limits of what we can offer homeowners.

Source hierarchy

Cost data and regulatory claims flow through a tiered citation hierarchy:

We avoid using competitor cost-guide sites (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila, Forbes Home) as primary citations — they’re cross-references only.

YMYL (Your Money Your Life) topics

Topics that affect homeowner health, safety, or major financial decisions are held to a higher accuracy bar:

• Hazardous materials: asbestos, lead paint, biohazard, mold, radon
• Health risks: water damage, fire damage, structural integrity
• Major financial decisions: solar (5-15 year payback), full kitchen remodel ($25k+), foundation repair ($10k+), pool installation ($30k+)

For YMYL content:

• All regulatory claims cite EPA, OSHA, or state agency primary sources with direct URLs
• Cost ranges include the conservative scenario (high-end), not just averages
• Boilerplate disclaimer: “Consult licensed/certified contractor” — non-negotiable
• DIY guidance is forbidden for regulated materials (asbestos abatement, lead paint removal at scale, biohazard cleanup)

Editorial independence

InsiderCost earns revenue through:

• Affiliate links (Amazon Associates, Commission Junction, ShareASale)
• Lead-generation referrals (Modernize, CraftJack, Networx, Angi)

These relationships are governed by FTC 16 CFR Part 255 and disclosed in:

• A persistent footer link to Affiliate Disclosure
• Inline article callouts where affiliate links appear
• Per-article disclosure for any sponsored content (we don’t publish sponsored content as of this writing)

Affiliate program payouts do not influence cost data, recommendations, or editorial selection. We don’t promote a higher-commission product over a lower-commission one.

Cost research methodology

For each cost guide:

1. Pull pricing data from at least 3 primary sources (Tier 1-4 above)
2. Identify the 5-10 specific variables that explain the cost spread
3. Cross-reference against 2-3 competitor cost guides for sanity check (not primary citation)
4. Triangulate regional adjustments using BLS construction labor data
5. Update annually (cost data has a 2026 stamp; refresh schedule visible on each guide)

Corrections policy

• Corrections submitted to contact@insidercost.com
• Acknowledged within 5 business days
• Corrected guides republished within 7 business days for substantive errors
• Corrections logged with date and reason on our internal tracking
• Quarterly correction summaries published as part of an editorial transparency report (planned for Q3 2026 onward)

What we don’t do

• We don’t publish content written by contractors looking to promote themselves
• We don’t accept payment from contractors for placement in articles
• We don’t run pop-ups, push notifications, or auto-play video ads
• We don’t quote-shop or vet specific contractors for individual readers
• We don’t provide professional engineering, construction, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, environmental, legal, medical, or financial advice

Author transparency

InsiderCost articles are researched and edited by the InsiderCost team. We use AI tools to assist with research, drafting, and copy-editing — final editorial review and source verification is done by humans. Where industry experts contribute (rarely as of 2026), their credentials and any conflicts of interest are disclosed inline.

For citation methodology questions: contact@insidercost.com .