Tools and guides
Nothing here is a calculator or a lead form. Each page is a checklist, a short question path, a letter you can fill in, a sourced table or a written guide.
I have damage
Water, storm or sewage in the house right now: safety first, then proof, then drying.
ChecklistWater damage: first 48 hours
A safe, ordered checklist from the first look to drying out.
ChecklistStorm damage walkthrough
Walk the outside and inside in a safe order and photograph as you go.
TroubleshooterCeiling water stain
A few questions that end in how urgent it is and what to do first.
TroubleshooterAttic moisture
Frost, damp insulation or mold in the attic: likely causes and what to do first.
TroubleshooterRoof leak
Where and when the water shows, how urgent it is, and what to do before a roofer comes.
TroubleshooterFoundation and wall cracks
What a crack pattern suggests, whether it is still moving, and when to call a structural engineer.
TroubleshooterRepair or replace the roof?
Roof age against a typical life, how much is damaged and what caused it: patch, inspect or plan a replacement.
TroubleshooterSewage backup
What to do, and what to leave to a professional, once it is inside.
I'm planning a project
Hiring, comparing bids and signing a repair contract without getting burned.
ChecklistHiring a contractor
Vet, compare bids and spot the red flags before you choose.
ChecklistBefore signing a repair contract
What the paper should say, and how to pay.
LetterRequest an itemized estimate
A letter to copy or print that asks a contractor for a line-by-line estimate.
ChecklistFinal walk-through before paying
Check the work, the permits, the releases and the paper before the last payment.
LetterNotice of incomplete work
A written notice that lists unfinished or faulty work and asks for a completion date.
LetterContractor warranty claim
A letter asking a contractor to honor a workmanship warranty.
LookupHow long home components last
Typical lives of roofs, water heaters, HVAC, windows, siding, decks, appliances and plumbing.
Wage tableWhat repair tradespeople are paid
Sourced wage ranges for six trades. Wages, not prices.
Wage tableRepair trade wages by metro
Eight trades in the fifty largest metro areas, from federal wage data. Wages, not prices.
ChecklistAnnual home maintenance
Gutters, grading, humidity, dryer vent and alarms: the upkeep that heads off costly repairs.
I'm dealing with insurance
What a homeowners policy usually covers, what to keep, and how to push back on an estimate.
TroubleshooterIs my damage covered?
Answer a few questions about the cause and get a likely answer to ask your insurer about.
ChecklistFEMA disaster assistance
Insurance first, then what to have ready for FEMA, the inspection and how to appeal.
ChecklistClaim documentation
What to gather and keep so the claim can be reviewed on paper.
LookupClaim terms decoder
Plain-language meanings for the terms on an estimate and in a policy.
LetterClaim dispute and supplement letter
Fill in a few fields and get a letter to copy or print.
GuideDepreciation explained
Why a payment can be lower than the repair bill, with a worked example.
GuideHomeowners claims by cause
How common and how costly claims are for wind, water, fire and theft, as industry averages.
GuidePublic adjuster, appraisal or attorney
Three ways to push back on a settlement, and what each costs.