Cost of Owning
Independent cost guides for homeowners

Know what it costs before the contractor tells you.

Honest price ranges for home repairs and upgrades, with every assumption shown. Plug in your numbers, get a figure you can hold up against a quote.

Open the calculators How we estimate
Free, always no sign-up, no sales calls
Ranges, not guesses equipment and labor broken out
Show the math every formula explained on the page

Calculators

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01

Mini-Split Cost Calculator

Size a ductless system in BTU and see the installed price range for your home.

Calculate → 02

Water Heater: Repair or Replace?

Enter age, type and repair quote — get a clear repair-vs-replace verdict.

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Heat Pump Payback Calculator

Estimate yearly savings and how many years a heat pump takes to pay for itself.

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Roof Replacement Cost Calculator

By roof size, pitch and material.

Calculate → 05

Solar Panel Payback Calculator

System size, local sun and incentives.

Calculate → 06

Window Replacement Cost Calculator

Per-window pricing by frame type.

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01

Your numbers, not averages

Every estimate adjusts to your home's size, climate and condition — the three things that actually move the price.

02

Nothing hidden

We show how each figure is built, so you can check it against the quotes on your kitchen table.

03

No lead forms

We don't sell your details to contractors, and we don't take a cut from anyone. The tools stay anonymous.

From the guides

All guides →
Sep 24 How We Estimate Costs: Our Method and Numbers Methodology Every Cost of Owning guide publishes defensible ranges built from materials, labor, and regional multipliers. Here's exactly how we build them. Sep 24 Annual Home Maintenance Budget: The 1% Rule Tested General Plan on 1% to 2% of home value each year, $3,000 to $6,000 on a $300,000 house. Build a sinking fund around the big five expenses, not guesswork. Sep 24 Annual HVAC Maintenance Cost: What a Tune-Up Should Cost HVAC A real HVAC tune-up costs $90 to $220 per visit in 2026. See what's included, what the $59 specials actually sell, and which tasks you can do yourself. Sep 24 Attic Insulation Cost: 2026 Blown-In Pricing Guide Energy Blown-in attic insulation costs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot installed. See R-value targets by climate zone, air-sealing first, and honest payback math.

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