About Temp Services
Temp Services helps homeowners and businesses understand typical costs for common home services across different states. We provide estimated cost ranges based on official government economic data, not actual quotes.
Our Mission
We believe that transparent pricing information empowers consumers to make better decisions. When you know what a service typically costs in your area, you can:
- Recognize when you're being overcharged
- Spot suspiciously low bids that might indicate poor quality
- Budget accurately for home projects
- Negotiate from an informed position
- Make fair comparisons between contractor quotes
We created Temp Services because we believe this information should be freely available to everyone, not locked behind paywalls or buried in contractor marketing materials.
Our Methodology
We use a transparent, data-driven approach to generate our cost estimates:
1. National Baseline Research
We research and maintain baseline price ranges for each service category. These baselines represent typical costs at a national level, accounting for labor time, materials, and standard scope of work. We regularly review and update these baselines to reflect market changes.
2. Regional Price Parities (RPP)
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) publishes Regional Price Parities that measure price differences across states. If a state has an RPP of 110, prices there are about 10% higher than the national average. We apply these parities to adjust our baseline estimates for each state.
3. Consumer Price Index Adjustment
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) monthly. We use this data to adjust our estimates for inflation, ensuring they reflect current economic conditions rather than outdated pricing.
4. Regular Updates
We update our estimates monthly when new CPI data is released and annually when the BEA publishes updated Regional Price Parities. This ensures our estimates stay current with economic changes.
Data Sources
We use exclusively official government data sources for our regional adjustments:
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Regional Price Parities measure how prices for goods and services in each state compare to the national average. Published annually.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) measures changes in prices paid by urban consumers for goods and services. Published monthly.
What We're Not
To be completely transparent about what Temp Services is and isn't, here's what we don't do:
- ❌We don't provide quotes - Only estimates based on typical market rates
- ❌We don't connect you with contractors - We're not a lead generation service
- ❌We don't guarantee prices - Your actual cost will depend on your specific situation
- ❌We don't have "real local data" - We use government statistics, not crowdsourced job data
- ❌We don't sell your information - We have no user accounts or data collection
Why Use Estimates?
Before you start calling contractors, it helps to know if you're in the ballpark. Our estimates help you:
- Understand price drivers: What factors affect how much you'll pay
- Know what's included: Typical scope of work vs. common add-ons
- Compare regionally: How your state compares to national averages
- Evaluate quotes: Whether a quote you receive seems reasonable
- Budget effectively: Plan your finances before starting a project
Limitations of Our Estimates
While we strive for accuracy, our estimates have inherent limitations:
- State-level RPPs don't capture city-level variations (San Francisco vs. Fresno, for example)
- Our baselines represent typical jobs, not complex or unusual situations
- Market conditions can change faster than government data is published
- Individual contractor pricing varies based on experience, overhead, and current workload
- Emergency and after-hours service typically costs more than our estimates suggest
Always get multiple local quotes before hiring. Actual prices vary by job size, access, materials, timing, and contractor experience. Use our estimates as a starting point, not a final answer.
Updates and Improvements
We continuously work to improve our estimates and expand our coverage:
- Monthly: Refresh data when new BLS CPI data becomes available
- Annually: Update when BEA releases new Regional Price Parities
- Ongoing: Review and refine baseline ranges based on market research
- Regular: Add new service categories and expand hiring guides
Questions or feedback? Contact us.