Terms of Use

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using LocalBuildCost at localbuildcost.org (the "Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Site.

These Terms apply to all visitors, users, homeowners, and contractors who access or use the Site. We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

Description of Service

LocalBuildCost provides an online home renovation cost estimation tool that generates approximate cost ranges based on user-provided information including ZIP code, project type, home size, and finish level.

The Site also operates a contractor lead generation service, connecting homeowners with third-party home improvement networks and licensed contractors. LocalBuildCost acts as an intermediary and does not itself perform any renovation, contracting, or construction services.

Our services are provided free of charge to homeowners. We generate revenue through affiliate referral fees paid by our contractor network partners.

Estimate Disclaimer

Actual renovation costs vary significantly based on factors including but not limited to:

• Current local labor market conditions and contractor availability
• Specific material selections, brands, and suppliers
• Site-specific conditions discovered during construction
• Permit requirements and local building codes
• Unforeseen structural issues, hazardous materials (e.g., asbestos, lead paint), or code upgrades
• Seasonal demand and supply chain conditions
• Scope changes during the project

LocalBuildCost makes no representation or warranty that any estimate generated by our tool will accurately reflect the actual cost of your renovation project. We strongly recommend obtaining at least three written quotes from licensed, insured contractors before making any financial decisions.

LocalBuildCost is not responsible for any financial decisions made based on estimates generated by our tool.

Affiliate Relationships

LocalBuildCost participates in affiliate marketing programs. When you click a "Get Quotes" button and submit a quote request through a partner network such as Angi, Modernize, or HomeLight, LocalBuildCost may receive a referral commission from that network.

This compensation does not influence our cost estimates, which are generated independently based on regional data. However, the order and prominence of affiliate network recommendations may be influenced by our commercial relationships.

By clicking affiliate links and submitting your information to partner networks, you acknowledge that your data will be handled according to those networks' own privacy policies and terms of service, which are separate from this agreement.

LocalBuildCost does not guarantee the quality, reliability, licensing, or conduct of any contractor introduced through our affiliate partners. Any agreement entered into with a contractor is solely between you and that contractor.

Contractor Terms

Contractors who join the LocalBuildCost waitlist or purchase leads agree to the following additional terms:

• Eligibility: You must be a licensed and insured contractor in your service area. LocalBuildCost reserves the right to verify licensing and remove contractors who cannot provide proof of licensure.
• Lead quality: Leads are provided on an as-available basis. LocalBuildCost does not guarantee a minimum number of leads, conversion rates, or project values.
• No exclusivity guarantee: Unless you have subscribed to an explicit exclusive lead plan, the same homeowner may be contacted by multiple contractors.
• Conduct: Contractors must interact with homeowners professionally and in accordance with applicable laws. Spamming, harassment, or misrepresentation will result in immediate removal from the platform.
• Refund policy: Lead fees are non-refundable except in cases of demonstrably invalid leads (e.g., false contact information), reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• No employment relationship: Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship between LocalBuildCost and any contractor.

User Conduct

By using LocalBuildCost you agree not to:

• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information
• Use automated tools, bots, or scrapers to access the Site
• Attempt to reverse-engineer, copy, or replicate our pricing data or algorithms
• Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable regulations
• Interfere with the proper functioning of the Site or its servers
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Site or its related systems

We reserve the right to terminate access for any user who violates these conduct standards.

Intellectual Property

All content on LocalBuildCost — including but not limited to the estimation tool, pricing data, design, text, graphics, and code — is the property of LocalBuildCost and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You may use the Site for personal, non-commercial purposes only. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any content on this Site without express written permission from LocalBuildCost.

The LocalBuildCost name and logo are trademarks of LocalBuildCost. You may not use our trademarks without prior written consent.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, LocalBuildCost and its owners, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to:

• Financial losses resulting from reliance on our cost estimates
• Disputes between homeowners and contractors introduced through our platform
• Poor workmanship, contractor misconduct, or project overruns
• Data loss, service interruptions, or technical errors
• Actions or omissions of our affiliate partner networks

In no event shall LocalBuildCost's total liability to you exceed the amount you have paid to LocalBuildCost in the twelve months preceding the claim, or $100, whichever is greater. Many of our services are free, so in most cases our liability is limited to $100.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of liability. In such jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless LocalBuildCost and its owners, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses — including reasonable legal fees — arising out of or in any way connected with your use of the Site, your violation of these Terms, or your interactions with any contractor or affiliate network introduced through our platform.

Governing Law

These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Osceola County, Florida. By using this Site, you consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts.

Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Use at any time. We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page when changes are made. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

Your continued use of LocalBuildCost after any changes to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you must stop using the Site.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid under applicable law, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in full force and effect.