{"id":1262,"slug":"rule-label-every-estimate-with-vintage","title":"R3 — Label every published estimate as an estimate, and show its vintage prominently","kind":"rule","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["customer-facing-tools","estimate-quote-law","accuracy-risk-published-data"],"reference_body":"**Rule:** Every customer-facing calculator result must be (a) prominently labelled as an *estimate*, not a quote; (b) accompanied by the date and inputs the figure was based on; (c) accompanied by a one-line statement of what the estimate does *not* include.\n\n**Why:** Labelling is the central legal defence ([[estimate-vs-quote-legal-distinction]]); courts assess estimate-vs-quote objectively, but unambiguous labelling and visible vintage both work *for* the defendant. Vintage protects against the staleness failure mode ([[solar-incentives-change-daily-staleness]]). The Zillow Zestimate case ([[zillow-zestimate-error-rates]]) is the worked example: the courts sided with Zillow partly because the figure was always called an *estimate*, not an appraisal.\n\n**How to apply:**\n- Every result page shows the label \"Estimate\" near the number, not buried in fine print.\n- Every result page shows the input-date and the assumption set.\n- One sentence at minimum on what the estimate excludes (taxes, site assessment, scope changes, etc).","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"estimate-vs-quote-legal-distinction","title":"Estimate vs quotation — the legal distinction and why \"it's just an estimate\" may not save you","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"misrepresentation-negligence-detailed-estimates","title":"A detailed online estimate with no reasonable basis can expose you to misrepresentation or negligence — even when labelled \"estimate\"","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"solar-calculator-not-binding-disclaimer","title":"Solar.com plainly states its calculator \"is based on assumptions and does not represent a binding solar quote\"","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"solar-incentives-change-daily-staleness","title":"Solar incentives can change daily — unmaintained solar calculators actively mislead","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-customer-facing-calculators-smb-june-2026","title":"Research brief: customer-facing calculators & tools for SMBs — the honest case (June 2026)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"article-customer-facing-calculators-win-work-or-backfire","title":"Article (draft): A calculator can win you work — or quietly cost you the deal","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"rule-label-every-published-data-figure-with-vintage","title":"R6 — Every published number gets a label (what it is) and a vintage (how fresh); the Zestimate defence depends on it","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"rule-honest-anchor-tool-output-matches-sales-quote","title":"R8 — The tool's number IS the buyer's anchor; sales must be ready to MEET OR EXPLAIN it — bait-and-switch destroys the trust the mechanism case earns","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-20T16:50:09.683Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T16:50:09.683Z"}