About

Jim (Santi Jim)

Founder & Construction Cost Lead

With a practical background as a certified first-class tradesman (oficial de primera), I bring direct hands-on experience in how jobs are built, measured, and billed on-site. While our guides are designed for clear budgeting rather than formal engineering or structural appraisals, my practical insight helps cut through vague sales pitches and benchmark realistic labor, material, and contractor pricing for homeowners across the US.

Why WhatHomeCosts exists

Most homeowners only replace a roof, fix a foundation or treat for termites once or twice in their lives, so it is hard to know whether a quote is fair. WhatHomeCosts exists to give you a realistic price range before you call a contractor, so you can plan a budget, spot quotes that are far out of line and ask better questions.

What we do

• We research prices from national cost databases, contractor and manufacturer price pages, and government sources, and we cite every source with its date at the end of each guide.
• We show ranges, not single numbers, and explain what makes a job cost more or less.
• We update guides when prices change and note the date of the last check on every page.

What we don't do

We don't sell home improvement services, and we don't accept payment to change our price data or recommendations. We are not contractors, engineers or inspectors: our guides are a starting point, not professional advice. Read our editorial policy, methodology and how we make money.

Who we are

WhatHomeCosts is an independent publication. To suggest a topic, report an error or ask a question, use our contact page.