Last updated October 2026
This page explains who writes UpgradeWorth, how articles are researched and checked, how we use AI tools, and how to report a mistake.
Who writes UpgradeWorth
UpgradeWorth is an independent publication, and a small one. Every page is published under one house byline, UpgradeWorth Editorial. The byline does not mean that an outside expert reviewed the page.
Our research comes from published sources, which are named on the page. We are not contractors, engineers, architects, installers, home inspectors or product testers, we do not test the products we write about, and our articles have not been reviewed by a qualified professional unless the article specifically says so and names the reviewer.
What we publish
We cover expensive home improvement decisions for U.S. homeowners: what projects cost, what drives the price, whether an upgrade is worth it, and when repair makes more sense than replacement. We do not sell products, take payment to recommend a contractor or brand, or accept paid placements inside our articles.
How articles are researched
- Start with the decision. Each article answers a specific homeowner question. We try not to publish a page that repeats an existing UpgradeWorth page, and we are merging or removing pages that overlap too much.
- Gather sources. Cost figures come from recent published U.S. sources. Claims about tax credits, efficiency ratings, codes and safety rules come from official or primary sources wherever possible. Our methodology explains how we combine sources into ranges.
- Add something useful. A page should add something beyond a generic answer, such as a sourced comparison table, a calculation, a decision framework or a checklist. Pages that don’t are being reworked or removed.
- Cite what matters. Important numbers should be attributed on the page, next to the figure, and linked to the source where one is available online. If you find one that isn’t, please tell us.
How we use AI tools
We use AI tools, including Claude, ChatGPT and Grok, to help with research, outlining, drafting, calculations, formatting and diagrams. AI tools can state things confidently that are wrong, so they are not treated as a source. Pages go through checks before and after publication, some of them automated, covering links, formatting and overlap with existing pages. Not every figure on every page is checked by hand against its source before it goes live, so if you rely on a number, open the source linked next to it, and tell us if something looks wrong (see Corrections below).
Updates
Articles show a published date and, when they have been revised, an updated date. We update a page when a source releases new data, when a program such as a tax credit changes, or when a reader shows us something is wrong. We change the updated date only when the content has actually been reviewed or changed.
Corrections
If you think something on UpgradeWorth is inaccurate, outdated or missing important context, email contact@upgradeworth.com with the page address, the statement in question and, if possible, a source. We review every correction request. When we confirm an error in a figure, recommendation or factual claim, we fix it and add a short dated correction note at the end of the article. Small fixes such as typos or broken formatting are corrected without a note.
Advertising and independence
UpgradeWorth may display advertising and may in the future use affiliate links. Advertisers do not see articles before publication and do not influence what we write or recommend. If a page ever contains affiliate links, it will say so clearly.
Related: About UpgradeWorth, How we estimate costs, Disclaimer.