The editorial team

In short: Cost guides and calculators are produced by the LocalServiceHQ editorial team using published cost guides, supplier list prices and state licensing boards. Every page has a source, a checked date and a correction route.

LocalServiceHQ cost guides and calculators are produced by an in-house editorial team that researches published US price data and state licensing rules.

LocalServiceHQ editorial team
Cost guides, calculators and state licensing summaries

How a page is built

Research: at least three published sources per price range, plus supplier list prices where they exist.
Date check: every table carries the month it was compared; older figures are re-checked twice a year.
Calculator check: the formula is written on the page, and the worked examples are re-run whenever prices change.
Licence check: state rules are taken from the licensing board's own site and linked from the page.

Corrections

Email admin@localservicehq.com with the page and the problem. We fix or remove the claim and note the date. See the editorial policy, review policy and methodology.

The editorial team and how we work

How a cost guide is built

Step	What happens	What is published
1. Scope	We define the job, the unit (per square foot, per pier, per hour) and the parts that change the price	The range table and the unit definitions
2. Source check	Published cost guides and supplier list prices are compared, and the month is recorded	Low, typical and high prices with a checked date
3. Calculator check	The formula is written on the page and the worked examples are re-run against the same prices	A calculator that shows its maths and its assumptions
4. Licence check	The state licensing body is named and linked, so a homeowner can verify a licence themselves	State rules with the board's name and website
5. Edit and update	A second pass removes claims that cannot be sourced; prices are re-checked twice a year	A dated page with its correction history

What we check before publishing

The unit matches the job. A per-square price for roofing is per 100 square feet, not per shingle.
The range moves together. A low price that is lower than the material cost is a mistake, not a bargain.
The calculator and the table agree. If a worked example cannot be reproduced, the page is not published.
The internal links point to pages that exist. We do not invent URLs.
The page has an author line, a last updated date and a way to report a mistake.

Standards and bodies we reference

When a guide mentions a standard or a licence, it names the body that publishes it, so you can check the source rather than take our word for it. Examples: the state licensing boards linked from each state licence page, the American Concrete Institute (ACI) for concrete testing and mix design, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) for roofing practice, and Energy Star for equipment efficiency. A reference to a body does not mean we are accredited by it.

Corrections and challenges

If a price, a licence rule or a calculator result looks wrong, email admin@localservicehq.com with the page and the source. We check the source, update the page if it is confirmed, and note the change. Our editorial policy sets out the process and the review policy covers how pro reviews are handled.

Questions

Who writes the cost guides?

The LocalServiceHQ editorial team researches and writes the guides, calculators and state licence pages. The team compares published cost guides with supplier list prices and checks each calculator against the formula printed on its page.

How often are prices checked?

Price ranges are re-checked twice a year, or sooner when a supplier list changes sharply. Calculators are re-run when the prices behind them change and when a bug is reported.

Can I verify a licence the site mentions?

Yes. Each state licence page names the licensing board and links to it, so a homeowner can look up a contractor directly instead of relying on the site.

Do you use AI to write pages?

Software tools may help draft and check pages, but every published number is compared with the sources listed, and a person edits and approves the page. Numbers that cannot be traced to a source are not published.