Last updated October 2026
How We Report
Our approach to Illinois reporting, data, photographs, corrections, and sponsorship.
Plain-language summary
Illinois RDN is an independent Illinois news and homeowner-resource publication run by the Illinois RDN Editorial Team. Every article is reviewed by a human editor, cites its sources, and is independent of our sponsor.
Our mission
Illinois RDN provides independent Illinois coverage of home remodeling, residential construction, housing, and neighborhood development, alongside practical homeowner resources.
Who we are
Illinois RDN is an independent Illinois-focused publication run by the Illinois RDN Editorial Team. Articles are bylined “Illinois RDN Editorial Team.” You can reach the team through our contact page.
What we cover
- Newsroom coverage of Illinois homes, building, and development.
- Illinois Permit Finder.
- Homeowner Tools.
- Illinois Housing Market hub.
- Score Outlook.
- Rental Market Indicator.
- Construction Material Price Indexes.
How we source
We prioritize primary and official sources, including government agencies, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, HUD, Zillow Research, and local government records. Articles list sources with visible attribution and include at least two natural in-body citations. We do not invent facts, quotations, or sources; named places must be verifiable.
Editorial review
An editor fact-checks, verifies sources for, and approves every article before publication.
Photography standards
Editorial imagery uses authentic photographs, never AI-generated images. We require verified reusable rights under CC0, the Public Domain Mark, CC BY, or CC BY-SA, with visible creator credit, license, and original source link. A photograph must not imply that it depicts a particular property or event unless it actually does.
Data & methodology
RDN Market, Buy, and Sell Scores, Score Outlook, and the Rental Market Indicator are independent statistical editorial indicators built from public data. They are not financial advice, appraisals, or home-price forecasts. Finalized indicator months are locked. Read the housing-market methodology and the rental indicator’s methodology for source and calculation details.
Independence
Illinois RDN is not a government agency. Our tools and guides are informational and do not replace professional, legal, or financial advice.
Sponsorship & advertising
Illinois RDN is supported in part by local sponsor Rohrer Construction. Sponsor content is clearly labeled. Sponsors never review, approve, or control editorial coverage.
Corrections
Read our Corrections & Updates Policy or request a correction.
Using our work
See Press & Data Use for guidance on citing our reporting and indicators.