Cookie Policy

Effective date: July 27, 2026Last updated: July 27, 2026

This policy explains cookies and similar browser technologies used or prepared for use on HomeCostBrief, including the two choices shown in the cookie banner.

Important: This page describes the site’s intended and current practices but is not a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer or privacy professional for a specific business or jurisdiction.

What cookies and similar technologies are

Cookies are small text files stored by a browser. Websites can also use local storage, pixels, tags, SDKs and similar technologies to remember choices, measure activity or support advertising. This policy uses “cookies” as a convenient term for these technologies unless a distinction matters.

Essential only: Stores the consent choice and keeps non-essential advertising and analytics storage disabled.
Accept cookies: Stores the consent choice and permits configured advertising and measurement services to initialize.

After either option is selected, the banner closes and no floating cookie-management button remains visible.

Essential storage

The current site stores a consent record under the browser-storage key hcbCookieConsent. It records the selected category state, consent version and time of the choice. This prevents the banner from appearing repeatedly and helps the site apply the selected advertising and analytics setting.

Essential delivery and security providers may also use technical mechanisms necessary to route traffic, prevent abuse and keep the site available.

Analytics technologies

Analytics tools may collect page views, device or browser information, approximate location, referrals, interactions and performance data. In the current implementation, non-essential analytics consent is denied by default and is granted only after the visitor selects Accept cookies.

Advertising technologies

When Google AdSense or another advertising service is configured, advertising technologies may be used to serve, measure, limit and, where permitted, personalize ads. Even non-personalized advertising may use cookies or local identifiers for functions such as frequency capping, fraud prevention and aggregate reporting.

Third-party advertising providers control their own cookies and retention periods. HomeCostBrief does not ask visitors to click advertisements and keeps ads visually separate from navigation, calculators and editorial recommendations.

The simple HomeCostBrief banner controls the site’s own loading logic, but it is not represented as a Google-certified CMP. Before serving personalized Google ads to users in the EEA, United Kingdom or Switzerland, a Google-certified CMP integrated with the applicable framework must be configured.

Google Privacy & Messaging or another suitable certified provider can be connected when the AdSense account is ready.

How long choices remain

The site-level consent choice remains in local storage until it is reset, site data is cleared, the browser removes it, or HomeCostBrief changes the consent version. Third-party cookie durations vary by provider and configuration.

Resetting your choice

The website does not show a persistent cookie-management button after a choice. If you want the banner to appear again, clear this site's stored data in your browser settings and then reload the website.

Blocking all storage may cause the banner to reappear because the site cannot remember the selection.

Third-party controls

Visitors can also use browser settings, device controls and provider-specific privacy tools. Blocking or deleting third-party cookies may affect advertising, embedded content and measurement. Google advertising personalization can be managed through Google’s own advertising settings. Google advertising choices are available through My Ad Center.

Changes and contact

This policy may be updated when technologies or providers change. For questions, email [email protected].