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Methodology

How we price jobs, check rules and rank pros

The exact rules behind every number, rule and list on LocalServiceHQ, so you can judge them for yourself.

Last updated Oct 28, 2026 · LocalServiceHQ editorial team

Prices

Each national price range is compiled from at least three published sources, such as national cost guides (HomeGuide, Angi, HomeAdvisor) and supplier or manufacturer list prices. Each source is dated, and we compare them before publishing a range. When we add contractor or homeowner quotes, the page will say so.

  • Low, Typical and High. Typical is the middle of what most homeowners paid; Low and High mark the normal range, not the extremes.
  • National, state and city. National ranges come first. State and city prices are added only where we have local data.
  • Ranges, not quotes. Results are estimates. Local labor, access and season move real quotes.

When a page is published

We would rather show nothing than a guess. A page is only open to search engines when it meets its bar:

  • A service hub: prices from three or more sources.
  • A job cost guide: three or more dated sources for that job.
  • A city page: local data and at least five checked pros.

Until then a page is either not built or marked “Coming soon” and kept out of search results.

State rules

Every state rule links to its official source (licensing board, attorney general, or city or county building department) and shows a “last checked” date. License and rebate rules are re-checked every three months, other rules once a year. State pages are general information, not legal advice.

Tools

Calculators use standard trade formulas, such as volume, coverage and spacing rules from manufacturers and common practice. Each tool shows its formulas and lets you type in your own prices. No tool asks for a phone number or email to show a result.

How pros will be ranked

When the pro directory opens, the organic list on each page is ranked by:

  • Verification level, with license and insurance weighted most.
  • Rating and number of reviews together, so a 5.0 from two reviews does not outrank a 4.8 from forty.
  • Distance within the pro’s service area.
  • Profile completeness and how quickly the pro responds.

Paid plans never change this order. Paid placement appears only in up to three slots labeled “Sponsored”.

Badges

  • Identity checked: a code sent to the business phone or domain email.
  • License checked: looked up at the state board, with the date; removed automatically when the license expires.
  • Insured: a liability certificate on file, with its expiry tracked.
  • Reviews linked: the business’s Google profile is connected.

Words like “Top rated” or “Best” are only used when measured against published criteria, and they cannot be bought.

Corrections

Spot an error? Tell us. We check the source, fix confirmed errors and update the page’s date.