Free 2026 decision-math tools
Should I do this? — 7 hard-math decision calculators
Most renovation pages give you a cost number. These give you a verdict. Each tool runs the actual decision math — break-even, ROI, claim economics — and tells you FILE / DON'T FILE, REPAIR / REPLACE, DIY / HIRE, or worth it / not worth it. Free, no email gate, no signup.
Not sure which one you need?
Pick your dilemma
Each option points to the right calculator in one click.
The 7 decision calculators
Each is anchored to a real life decision millions of homeowners ask every year. Click through to run your own numbers — verdicts come back in under 60 seconds.
Should I file my storm-damage insurance claim?
Given your wind/hail deductible, policy type (ACV vs RCV), and roof age — is filing even worth it? Includes the 5-year premium-impact penalty most homeowners forget about.
Best for: Just hit by hail, hurricane, tornado, wildfire, or flood
7 inputs · ~60 second result · no email required
Try the calculatorShould I repair or replace my roof?
10-year cost math: repair-now + upkeep + inflation-adjusted future replacement at EOL vs replace-now. Includes insurance non-renewal risk (carriers flag 15+ yr roofs in 2026) + resale impact.
Best for: Old or damaged roof, planning a contractor visit
8 inputs · ~60 second result · no email required
Try the calculatorShould I DIY or hire a contractor?
Break-even math: contractor quote vs. (materials + tool buy/rent + your hours × hourly opportunity cost + permit penalty + risk-adjusted rework cost). 14 common projects covered.
Best for: Comparing your weekend labor against a written contractor quote
8 inputs · ~60 second result · no email required
Try the calculatorWill this renovation increase my home value?
Project-specific ROI %, dollar return at sale, and HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW/POOR verdict — adjusted for state, home value, neighborhood tier, and time-to-sale. Built on the 2025 Cost-vs-Value methodology.
Best for: Considering a remodel and wondering if it'll pay back at sale
6 inputs · ~60 second result · no email required
Try the calculatorHow should I finance my renovation?
Side-by-side comparison of HELOC vs Home Equity Loan vs Cash-Out Refi vs Personal Loan — adjusted for your credit, equity, and current mortgage rate. Catches the cash-out refi rate-reset trap most calculators ignore.
Best for: Funding a renovation and weighing loan options
7 inputs · ~60 second result · no email required
Try the calculatorIs my contractor quote fair?
Runs your written quote against our state × project × quality benchmark dataset and returns a 5-tier verdict (fair / above market / way off). 30-second sanity check before you sign or pay a deposit.
Best for: Just got a written quote and wondering if it's reasonable
5 inputs · ~60 second result · no email required
Try the calculatorShould I sue my contractor?
Given your state, dispute amount, and issue type — get a 4-tier verdict (proceed / negotiate first / civil court / unwinnable) plus a primary + secondary action plan. State small-claims limit + SOL check baked in.
Best for: Contractor breach: deposit theft, abandoned job, defective work, or warranty refusal
6 inputs · ~60 second result · no email required
Try the calculatorWhy we built decision calculators instead of more cost calculators
The internet has plenty of "how much does X cost" calculators (HavenCostGuide has 11 of them, all state-adjusted). What it lacks is honest decision math — tools that take a position and tell you what to do.
Most "should I" pages list pros and cons. That's a cop-out — it leaves the homeowner exactly where they started. Our 7 decision calculators are opinionated by design: every one ends with a single-word verdict and a dollar number explaining why.
Our biases (so you can adjust):
- Conservative on insurance. We assume the 5-year premium-impact penalty is real, because it is — Allstate, State Farm, and Travelers all publish actuarial bumps of 8-15%/yr per claim through 2026.
- Honest on DIY. We don't underestimate your hours like YouTube tutorials do (1.7× multiplier for total beginners). Sweat equity is real, but so are 4-trip-to-Home-Depot weekends.
- Skeptical of luxury renovations on starter homes. The overcapitalization trap is the #1 ROI killer and most ROI tools ignore it.
- Functional > cosmetic. Adding a missing master bath outperforms refreshing an existing kitchen at sale, every time.
Methodology notes
- State-cost adjustment uses the same labor + materials index that powers our 550 state landing pages.
- Insurance economics are calibrated against IIBHS / NAIC 2025-2026 underwriting data.
- ROI baselines come from Remodeling Magazine's 2025 Cost-vs-Value report.
- DIY hours estimates are mid-points of HomeAdvisor / Angi / NRCA project ranges.
After your decision
Need the cost number too?
Once a decision tool tells you what to do, our 11 state-adjusted cost calculators (kitchen, bath, roofing, deck, fence, pool, hardscape, painting, flooring, windows, siding) give you the dollar number to budget against.
Browse the 11 cost calculators