How we build our editorial content.
Driven by data.
Millions of verified cost estimates from local pros, combined with our own research before publishing. Our team tracks cost estimates, compares them across regions and service types, and supplements that data with our own independent research. The prices we share are meant to help you plan and budget confidently. For the most accurate estimate, we always recommend contacting a professional near you.
Learnings from millions of projects started on Thumbtack are the foundation of our tips and expertise. Our guidance draws from a vast dataset of real projects, giving us a unique view into what homeowners need, what challenges they face, and what helps them succeed.
Surveys and interviews with homeowners and pros help us provide unique insights to provide you with confidence. We regularly talk to both homeowners and service professionals to uncover trends, surface new insights, and ensure our advice stays practical and relevant.
Editorial review process.
Thumbtack verified: Reviewed and fact-checked by our in-house editorial team.
Reviewed by a Thumbtack pro: Verified for accuracy by a trusted professional on the Thumbtack platform.
Reviewed by a contributing writer or editor: Validated by an industry specialist or subject matter expert with years of experience in the home improvement industry.
Meet the contributors.
Anna L. Smith: Anna is an editor and copywriter with over six years of experience creating and marketing content on home improvement, interior design, and DIY fabrication. She began her career in the publishing industry and has also contributed to numerous nonfiction titles about home organization, cooking, and self-help.
Elizabeth Trach: Elizabeth is a master gardener with hands-on landscaping and homesteading experience in both urban and suburban gardens, with an emphasis on sustainability. She is also a professional writer and editor with 15 years of experience, including content for retailers, architects, influencers, and ghostwriting a Wall Street Journal bestseller.
Evan Crowther: Evan is a freelance writer with a professional background that includes working with manufacturing and HVAC companies. He has a strong knowledge of pipes and plumbing systems.
Francesca Singer: Francesca has a degree in landscape architecture and is the former owner of a landscaping company. She has 20 years of professional landscaping experience, and more than 5 years experience writing about landscaping and yard care.
Jacob Black: Jacob is an editor with 8 years of experience working on home improvement and DIY content. After renovating his own home, he gained firsthand knowledge of the value of skilled contracting pros and continues to bring that to his editing. Jacob is passionate about home projects and committed to highlighting the expertise of quality tradespeople.
Judy Walters: Judy is a licensed building contractor with experience across plumbing, electrical, carpentry, concrete, painting, and HVAC. She has experience writing about plumbing and related technical concepts.
Luke Daugherty: Luke is a content strategist, editor, and former operations manager who helps companies tell their story and connect with audiences. He has produced and edited articles and case studies for leading brands in home services, smart home technology, and other industries for more than five years. As a DIY dabbler himself, he enjoys helping readers find their way around their next home project — and recognize when it’s better to call in a pro.
Marie Brown: Marie is a Seattle-based freelance writer with hands-on experience in home improvement and repair projects. She gained practical skills working with her dad’s contracting business and later honed her eye for detail as a professional house cleaner. Marie now draws on that background to write and fact-check practical, trustworthy home care advice.
Tamara Aspeling: Tamara specializes in writing for the construction industry. She draws from her formal construction training and 25 years of experience as an estimator and project manager in commercial construction to deliver credible content, professional bid documents, specifications, data sheets, and more.
