IQHab › United States › Methodology
How estimates are calculated
IQHab turns a vague home problem or project into a structured, localized and transparent plan. Here is exactly how the numbers work.
Where base costs come from
IQHab compiles installed-cost ranges from industry broad-market data and published national ranges, then normalizes them into a structured dataset. Where possible we reference credible public and industry data as inputs.
We do not publish a single number and call it a quote. Every project is expressed as a low / typical / high range, because real jobs vary.
How ranges are built
Each project is decomposed into components — materials/equipment, labor, extras, and contingency — and each component gets a low, typical and high value.
For material-purchase jobs we also compute physical quantities (boxes, gallons, squares, cubic yards) from your measurements and a documented coverage or unit rate.
Labor vs. material
Where the data supports it we split labor and materials so you can see what drives the total. For simpler jobs we present a single installed range and explain what is included.
Regional (state) adjustment
We apply a documented state-level labor/market factor to national base costs. This lets us show a state-adjusted estimate without pretending we have city- or ZIP-level precision.
Costs are labeled as state-level estimates, not your exact local price. Use them to budget and to sanity-check quotes, not as a final number.
Confidence
Every estimate shows a confidence level: High, Medium or Low. Confidence reflects how well-established the source data is, how many unknowns the project has, and how granular the geographic adjustment is.
The more inputs you provide (measurements, material, condition, location), the tighter and more useful the range becomes.
Limitations
Hidden conditions — subfloor damage, wiring, mold, access, historical work — can materially change cost. No estimator can see behind your walls.
Our numbers are a planning aid and a benchmark for comparing contractor quotes, not a substitute for a professional assessment or an itemized quote.
Update cadence
Ranges are reviewed against current market data and each page lists an updated date. Local pricing and supply can shift between updates.
Next step
Open a calculator or planner to see the method applied, or compare contractor quotes side by side.