Last reviewed September 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. Articles carry one of two bylines. UpgradeWorth Editorial is our house byline, used on pages produced through the process described on this page. Chris Horton is the editorial byline used on newer pages, and it identifies the person who researched the page and checked it against its sources — not an outside expert brought in to review it. Both bylines mean the same process and the same standards, and articles published earlier keep the house byline they went live under.
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. Before writing, we check whether an existing UpgradeWorth page already answers it, so we do not publish near-duplicate pages.
- 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. We only publish a page when it adds something beyond a generic answer, such as a sourced comparison table, a calculation, a decision framework or a checklist.
- Cite what matters. Important numbers are attributed on the page, next to the figure, and linked to the source where one is available online.
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. Before an article is published, a human editor checks every figure and claim against the cited sources, checks that the page does not duplicate an existing one, checks every internal and external link, and reviews the formatting. Nothing is published automatically.
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.