How QuotedFair estimates prices
QuotedFair is a planning tool. You describe a job, we show a range, and if you type a quote we label it Low, Fair, or High. That is the whole product.
What the estimate is
A QuotedFair range is a planning band for the job as you entered it. It is not a contractor bid, not an appraisal, and not a promise that any company will do the work for that amount. The how it works page walks through the three steps and a worked dryer-vent example. This page is the method behind those steps.
Where the numbers start
Each calculator begins with a national 2026 typical range for that service. Dryer vents use exit type (wall, second floor, roof). Crawl spaces use a per-square-foot band by scope, with a $1,500 job minimum. Gutter cleaning uses stories first, then length and debris. Gutter installation uses material and linear feet, with an $800 job minimum. Those starting bands are published consumer prices for these jobs, not a live feed of contractor invoices.
QuotedFair does not claim a proprietary bid database, a certification, or a partnership with a lead network. If a number needs a source we do not have, we say so instead of inventing one.
How location changes the price
After the national band, a simple regional multiplier is applied. California is the highest on this list (+25%). Great Plains is the lowest (−5%). National average is 1.0. The multiplier is a labor-and-market adjustment, not a ZIP-code bid.
| Region | Multiplier | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | +20% | Higher labor rates and a lot of older housing stock. |
| Mid-Atlantic | +10% | A modest premium, especially near D.C., Baltimore, and Philly suburbs. |
| Southeast | National | Near the national average; humidity shows up more in crawl spaces and vents. |
| Florida | +10% | Heat, storms, and pests show up in dryer vents and gutters. |
| Midwest | +5% | A small premium over the national average. |
| Texas | +8% | A small premium; large single-story homes are common. |
| Mountain West | +5% | Access, snow season, and travel between towns can nudge prices up. |
| Pacific Northwest | +15% | Wet climate and moss raise demand for gutters and crawl-space work. |
| California | +25% | Highest typical labor rates on this list. |
| Southwest | National | Near the national average; dust and monsoon debris affect gutters. |
| Great Plains | -5% | Usually the lowest labor rates of the regions listed. |
How job size changes the price
Size is not a slogan. It is an input. A 20+ ft dryer vent adds 20% to the national band; a short run under 10 ft trims 10%. Crawl space square footage is multiplied by the per-foot rate for the scope you picked. Gutter cleaning runs over 150 ft add 25%. Gutter installation is priced per linear foot for the length band you pick. Short gutter jobs still often hit a trip or job minimum, which is why a small house is not automatically cheap.
How complexity changes the price
- Roof dryer vents cost more than wall vents because of access, time, and insurance.
- A bird nest or packed lint adds about $40–$100 on a dryer vent.
- Tight crawl access (under 3 ft) adds about 25%. Standing water or a mold smell adds about 30%, and drainage or remediation is still often extra.
- Heavy gutter debris adds about 20%. Packed gutters add about 40%.
- Gutter installation: two stories add about 25%; three stories add about 40%. Old-gutter removal adds about $1.50–$3 per foot. Mesh or micro-mesh guards add about $7–$15 per foot.
Those adjustments live in the calculator. Changing an input recalculates the range. There is no hidden “average house” behind the card.
Why two contractors quote different numbers
Same street, different price is normal. One company includes haul-away, a replacement cap, or a dehumidifier. Another quotes only the visible work and adds the rest later. One crew is booked; another is filling a Tuesday. Insurance, travel, and how they read the roof or the crawl all move the number. A range exists because the job is not a barcode.
How to compare a quote to the range
- Match the scope first. A wall-vent price on a roof job is not a comparison.
- Enter the same details the contractor assumed: region, access, size, extras.
- Type the quote. Low is below the band, Fair is inside it, High is above it.
- Read the label as a prompt, not a verdict on a person. Low can mean missing scope. High can mean a harder house. See how to read a contractor quote and questions to ask a contractor.
What this method does not do
- It does not inspect your house.
- It does not recommend a company or collect a lead.
- It does not produce city-by-city live bids. Region is the location grain we actually use.
- It does not replace a written scope, a license check, or insurance.
Limits are on the disclaimer. Independence is on the about page.
FAQ
Where do QuotedFair prices come from?
Each calculator starts from typical 2026 U.S. ranges for that job, then applies the regional multiplier and the job details you enter. QuotedFair does not scrape live contractor bids and does not have a data partnership to advertise.
Why is a planning range not a bid?
A bid is a company promising to do a written scope for a price. QuotedFair never sees your house, never writes a scope, and never sends a crew. The range is a planning number so you can tell whether a quote is in the neighborhood.
What does Low / Fair / High actually mean?
Low is below the low end of the range for the job as you described it. Fair is inside the range, including the ends. High is above the high end. Low can still be a thin scope. High can still be a harder job.