1. Information We Do Not Collect
First, what we do not do. WikEst calculators work entirely in your browser. Numbers you enter into a mortgage, equity, or ROI calculator never leave your device unless you explicitly choose to print the result. We do not:
- Require registration, login, or an email address to use any tool on WikEst.
- Associate calculator inputs with your personal identity.
- Track your activity across other websites.
- Sell or rent your personal information to any third party.
2. Information We Collect
We collect two categories of information when you use WikEst:
a. Information You Voluntarily Provide
If you use our Contact Us form or send an email, we collect:
- Your name and email address (so we can reply).
- The content of your message.
- The general topic category you select (e.g., calculator feedback, data correction).
We only use this information to respond to your message and to keep a record of the correspondence. We do not add you to a mailing list or use your information for advertising.
b. Passive, Anonymous Information
Like most websites, we receive limited anonymous information automatically when you visit, including:
- Browser type and operating system.
- Approximate geographic region (based on IP address, typically metro-level, not street-level).
- Pages viewed and approximate time spent on each page.
- Referral source (e.g., search engine, social link, or direct navigation).
This data is aggregated and anonymous. We use it to understand which calculators and articles are most popular, to detect technical issues, and to improve the site. We do not attempt to identify individual users from this information.
3. Cookies and Similar Technologies
WikEst uses a small number of cookies and local storage entries to operate properly. A full breakdown is available on our Cookie Policy.
Briefly, cookies on WikEst are used to:
- Remember your preferred unit system (U.S. customary vs. metric) across calculators — stored only in your own browser.
- Detect basic abuse (e.g., automated scraping) without identifying individuals.
- Deliver aggregate, anonymous analytics through privacy-respecting services.
You can disable cookies in your browser at any time. Doing so may affect the unit preference memory but will not prevent calculators from working.
4. How We Use Information
Information collected by WikEst is used solely to:
- Operate, maintain, and improve the website and its calculators.
- Respond to reader messages submitted through the contact form.
- Investigate technical issues, abuse, or potential violations of our Terms of Service.
- Comply with applicable U.S. laws and lawful requests from regulators or law enforcement.
We do not use your information for advertising targeting, and we do not share it with third-party data brokers.
5. Data Retention
We keep contact form submissions and email correspondence for up to 24 months after the last message in the thread, in case a reader follows up. Anonymous analytics records are retained for up to 13 months in aggregated form. We do not maintain user accounts, so there is no ongoing personal data profile to delete.
6. Data Security
WikEst operates on industry-standard hosting infrastructure with encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS 1.2+) and encrypted storage for any submitted messages. We follow reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect information we do collect. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to minimize risk.
7. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights over your personal information. For readers in the United States, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) provide rights to know, to delete, and to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information.
Because WikEst does not sell personal information and does not maintain identifiable profiles of users, most CCPA/CPRA rights do not apply in practice. If you believe we hold personal information about you that you would like to access or delete, contact us via our Contact Us page and we will respond within the statutory timeframe.
Readers in the European Union or United Kingdom may have rights under the GDPR or UK GDPR. To exercise these rights, use the contact form and reference "Privacy request" in your message.
8. Children's Privacy
WikEst is designed for adult U.S. homeowners, buyers, and investors. We do not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13. If we become aware that a child has submitted information through the contact form, we will delete the message and any associated email address promptly.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. Material changes will be noted by updating the "Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage readers to review this page periodically.
10. Questions
Privacy-related questions can be directed to privacy@wikest.com or through our Contact Us page.