House Spill

Useful skepticism. Expensive decisions.

The sales pitch is only half the story.

We unpack quotes, warranties and consumer claims—then give you questions to take to the next conversation.

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Start with the question that costs you.

All 19 stories →
Energy · California rebates

California’s HEEHRA Rebates Are Fully Reserved. Check Your Quote.

Income approval is not project approval. Check the reservation before counting a rebate in your quote.

5 min read · October 7, 2026Read the story →Bathrooms

The Cheapest Bathroom Quote May Be Missing the Expensive Parts

Compare bathroom remodeling scope, allowances, repairs and financing before deciding which quote is cheapest. A lower number is not always the same purchase for less.

5 min read · Contains advertisingRead the story →Water treatment

A Water Softener Is Not a Universal Water Purifier

Less scale and a better lather do not establish that every contaminant has been addressed.

4 min read · Contains advertisingRead the story →Living at home

The Most Important Stair-Lift Question Happens Before the Ride

A seat that travels upstairs is only useful if the user can approach, transfer and exit appropriately.

4 min read · Contains advertisingRead the story →Money & rights

The federal window tax credit is gone for 2026 projects

The Section 25C window tax credit ended for property placed in service after Dec. 31, 2025. Learn what a 2026 replacement-window quote should promise.

6 min readRead the story →

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Promises worth reading twice.

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Bathrooms

A Lifetime Bathroom Warranty Can Still Leave You With a Repair Bill

The duration is only one part of the promise. The remedy, labor coverage and exclusions tell you what happens when something breaks.

4 min read · Contains advertisingRead the story →Bathrooms

Free Bathroom Installation Is Not the Same as a Cheaper Bathroom

A discount on one line cannot tell you whether the whole purchase is good value.

4 min read · Contains advertisingRead the story →Gutters & drainage

New Gutters Can Leave the Old Water Problem Unsolved

Before replacing the roof-edge hardware, ask where the runoff goes next.

4 min read · Contains advertisingRead the story →Living at home

A Stair Lift Is Not an Aging-in-Place Plan

It can address the staircase while leaving the rest of daily life untouched.

4 min read · Contains advertisingRead the story →

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Sources you can inspect. Limits we make explicit. Ads that look like ads. We don’t invent product tests, customer stories or contractor rankings.

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