Free 2026 decision-math tools
Should I do this? — 12 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 12 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 calculatorWill my roof insurance claim pay out?
ACV vs RCV math with depreciation, hailbelt percentage deductibles, and out-of-pocket shortfall. Get realistic check 1 / check 2 / total payout before you file — and see whether a HEL bridges the gap.
Best for: Pre-claim sanity check or auditing an adjuster's lowball estimate
7 inputs · ~60 second result · no email required
Try the calculatorAm I underinsured on my home?
Reconstruction-cost math built on Marshall & Swift + RSMeans 2026 data. State multipliers, quality tier, feature boosts, 15% post-disaster surge factor — 4-tier verdict (GOOD / OK / UNDERINSURED / DANGEROUSLY-UNDER) tells you whether to call your carrier this month or not.
Best for: Annual renewal review, post-renovation coverage check, pre-claim sanity test
5 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 calculatorShould I finish my basement?
3-factor ROI math: state-adjusted project cost vs. NAR Cost-vs-Value resale lift (decayed by years-until-sale) vs. personal-use value while you own it. 5-tier verdict + over-improvement guardrail + opportunity-cost comparison.
Best for: Unfinished basement and weighing scope (rec room / suite / rental unit)
6 inputs · ~60 second result · no email required
Try the calculatorShould I get solar?
Top-of-funnel gate-check: monthly bill + state + roof condition → estimated system size, net cost after 30% federal credit, annual savings (state-buyback-ratio adjusted including CA NEM 3.0 + AZ RCP), break-even years, and 4-tier verdict (Green Light / Worth Evaluating / Marginal / Skip) in 30 seconds. Pre-installer-call sanity check.
Best for: Before letting a solar installer rep through the door — gate the decision with state-specific math
3 inputs · ~60 second result · no email required
Try the calculatorShould I renovate or move?
11-input 5/10/20-year all-in cost-of-ownership math: locked-rate vs prevailing rate, ~9% selling cost, ~3% buying cost, capital-gains exemption, property-tax basis reset. Three of those inputs decide the answer in 2026 and nobody else's calculator asks them.
Best for: You're locked sub-4% on the mortgage and weighing a $40K+ renovation vs. selling into 7%+ rates
11 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 10 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