Editorial standards & corrections
Our job is to make tradeoffs easier to inspect—not to force a conclusion. These standards explain how we source, review, correct, and monetize the site.
Who publishes this site
Pages are published under The Value of Tradeoffs Editorial Team. The site uses a brand byline rather than a personal byline. Our accountability comes from visible methodology, source links, reviewed dates, model-change history, and corrections.
Source standard
We prefer primary and authoritative sources when they fit the question: government agencies, official programs, technical standards, utilities, and manufacturer documentation. Established consumer or technical references are used when primary data is incomplete. Editorial estimates are labeled as estimates and kept editable in calculators.
How calculator assumptions are handled
- Defaults are starting points, not facts.
- Material assumptions should be editable.
- Temporary rebates, tax credits, or incentives are not treated as universal.
- Close modeled results stay close; we do not manufacture certainty.
- Safety, reliability, downtime, and convenience are kept visible even when they cannot be reduced to a reliable dollar value.
Corrections policy
If a factual error, broken model assumption, or calculation defect is found, we correct the page or calculator and update the reviewed date when the change is material. Significant calculator/model changes are recorded in the public assumption history.
See assumption and model-change history →
To report an error, use the contact page and include the page URL plus the specific issue.
Monetization firewall
Commercial relationships must not change the modeled recommendation, assumptions, formulas, or editorial conclusion. If affiliate or referral links are introduced, they should be disclosed and placed after the decision logic rather than inside it.
Review cadence
Pages show a reviewed date when assumptions, sources, or model logic have been checked. Time-sensitive claims should be revisited more often than durable concepts. A reviewed date does not guarantee that every outside price, incentive, or local rule remains current.
What this site is not
The calculators are decision aids. They are not inspections, repair estimates, legal advice, tax advice, safety certifications, or guarantees of future cost or reliability.