About WhatCostsHome

WhatCostsHome exists because of a specific frustration: the moment a home service breaks, the homeowner has to negotiate a price for a job they've never bought, against a professional who sells it every day. Search results don't fix that imbalance — too many “cost guides” are lead generators for the very companies they claim to review. This site is the other kind: a pure cost guide.

What we are

• An independent price reference for US home services, launching with garage door and termite costs — two of the most quote-opaque jobs in home ownership.
• Research-based. Every figure is compiled from named, published sources (Angi's verified project data, HomeGuide, Fixr and official bodies like the EPA), cross-checked and dated. Our full process is public on the methodology page.
• Free and ad-supported. The site is funded by advertising, not by selling your details or your project to contractors.

What we are not

• Not a contractor, marketplace or booking service — we can't send anyone to your house, and nobody pays us for placement in a guide.
• Not a quote. Our ranges tell you whether a quote is sane; only an on-site professional can price your exact job.
• Not a DIY manual for dangerous work. Garage door springs injure people every year, so our spring guides cover cost and safe hiring — never replacement instructions.

How to use this site

Start from the job, not the company: read the guide for your problem (garage door costs or termite costs), run the calculator for your home's numbers, then collect 2–3 itemized local quotes and judge them against the range. If a quote lands far outside a range, ask for the itemization — legitimate reasons exist, and they can always be explained line by line.

Contact

Corrections are welcome — if a price looks wrong for your market, tell us the city and the quote and we'll re-check the data. Reach us at hello@whatcostshome.com or through the contact page.