Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Calculator Inputs

All calculator inputs (home size, loan amounts, cost estimates, etc.) are processed entirely within your browser using JavaScript. This data is never transmitted to our servers, stored in any database, or shared with any third party. When you close or refresh the page, the inputs are gone.

Contact Form

If you contact us, we collect the name, email address, subject, and message you provide. This information is transmitted via Formspree (a third-party form processor) to our inbox and is used solely to respond to your inquiry. It is not used for marketing.

Behavioral Analytics

When you visit the site and have accepted analytics cookies, we collect the following automatically:

• A randomly generated visitor ID stored in your browser's localStorage (rciq_vid) — persists until you clear browser storage or withdraw consent
• A randomly generated session ID stored in sessionStorage (rciq_sid) — expires when you close the tab
• Your approximate location (country, state, city) derived from your IP address via ipapi.co — we do not store your actual IP address
• Browser user agent string and device type (mobile / tablet / desktop)
• Pages visited, page titles, and referrer URL
• UTM campaign parameters (if present in the URL)
• Scroll depth milestones (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%)
• Time spent on each page
• Calculator fields you interact with and the values you enter
• Clicks on site links and calls to action

This data is stored in our Supabase database. It helps us understand which calculators are used most, where estimates may be inaccurate, and how to prioritize improvements. No analytics data is collected until you accept cookies in the consent banner.

Google Analytics

With your consent, we also use Google Analytics to understand aggregate traffic patterns. Google Analytics collects anonymized usage data using its own cookies. See our Cookie Policy for details. You can opt out at any time using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

2. Lawful Basis for Processing

3. Third-Party Data Processors

We use the following third-party processors. Each is bound by a data processing agreement and may not use your data for their own purposes.

4. Cookies and Browser Storage

See our Cookie Policy for a complete breakdown of every item stored in your browser, what it does, and how to remove it.

5. How We Use Your Information

• To respond to contact form inquiries
• To understand aggregate usage patterns and improve the site
• To identify which calculators need accuracy improvements
• To maintain security and prevent abuse
• To comply with legal obligations

6. Information Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share data only with the processors listed in Section 3, solely to operate the site. We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of RealCostIQ or others.

7. Your Rights

8. Data Retention

• Contact form submissions: retained until your inquiry is resolved, then deleted within 90 days
• Behavioral analytics: retained for 12 months, then deleted from our Supabase database
• Google Analytics data: subject to Google's standard retention policies
• Visitor ID (rciq_vid): stored in your browser until you clear localStorage or withdraw consent

9. Children's Privacy

Our site is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We will post updates to this page with a revised effective date. For material changes, we will add a notice on the site. Where legally required (e.g., for EU/UK users), material changes to the processing purposes will prompt a new consent decision.

11. Contact

For privacy questions, data requests, or to exercise any of the rights above, contact us or email Support@RealCostIQ.com. We will respond within 30 days.