Frequently Asked Questions

How Buildproof Works
Setting up a Project
Managing a Project
Dispute Resolution
Transaction Protection & Security
Privacy Protection

How Buildproof Works [Back to Top]

How our service works?

Buildproof is a secure payment system which gives contractors and property owners the ability to manage their home improvement project with complete protection. Our system ensures that property owners only pay for quality work that meets their expectations, and ensures contractors receive payment when they've performed that work.

How much does your service cost?

Buildproof is completely free for property owners.
Contractors pay a fee equal to 2% of the value of a project.

How do I register with Buildproof?

Signing up for Buildproof only takes about 2 minutes; simply click the "new user" button on the top right section of any page and we'll guide you through it.

How do I delete my account?

While we'll be sad to see you go, we can take care of this for you, just give us a call.

What do I do after registering my account?

After you sign up you will receive a welcome email to confirm your account. Simply click the link in the email and your ready to use the system.

Setting Up A Project [Back to Top]

What if I need help?

Buildproof has account representatives that will assist you all the way through the process; just call 480-751-1012 and we'll be glad to help you with whatever you need at no cost.

Do I still need a written contract for my home improvement project?

Absolutely! Buildproof's system is designed to supplement important details of your contract when setting up your project, and secure the payments of that project as it progresses. A written contract with details of all the work that's to be completed is a must-have step for a successful project.

What is a Project?

A Project is any job where you need to hire a contractor.
A Project can be simple and require only a single payment, or complex and require multiple payments.
Example: Kitchen Remodel or Bathroom Renovation are both Projects.

What is a Task?

A task is an individual component of a Project.
Example: Tasks for a “Kitchen Remodel” Project might be: Cabinets, Countertops, Flooring, Sink, etc.
Refer to your contract to assist in breaking down your project into tasks.

What are Payment Phases?

Payment Phases are the partial payments from your Buildproof Safehouse account associated with % completion of the entire project.
Payment Phases can include partial completion of multiple tasks within a project.

What is a Single-Payment Project?

A Single-Payment Project is a small home improvement project with only one payment
Examples: Painting, simple repairs, etc.

What is a Multi-Payment Project?

A Multi-Payment Project is a larger, more involved remodeling or renovation project, and a downpayment is required.
Examples: Kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation, etc.

How should I name my Project?

When you name your project, choose a name that is as descriptive of the overall project as possible.
Example Names: House Painting, Fix Drywall, Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Renovation

What if the Start and End Dates I entered have changed?

Don’t worry about it. Start and End Dates are estimates only; you can change them at any time through your Buildproof Project Management site.

How should I name my Tasks?

Again, be as descriptive as possible. Examples: Cabinet Installation, Replace Drywall, Remove Cabinets

How much detail do I need to provide on a Task’s Description?

You should provide as much as possible about the particulars of the Task. Any details such as Manufacturer, Material, Color, Finish, Size (dimension of item(s), Item #(s), etc. are extremely helpful. We understand you may not know all these things, do the best you can. You can always add more later on.

What if I don’t know how to answer a question while setting up a Project?

Don’t worry; just do the best you can. You can go back and edit this at any time.

Can I use multiple contractors for my project?

Absolutely, you just need to create a separate project for each contractor you use.

How do I add a contractor?

If you would like to invite a contractor to use the Buildproof system, simply click the "invite a contractor" link on the top right of your project page. Enter their email address and we'll do the rest.

Managing A Project [Back to Top]

What is the Project Page?

After you're done creating your Project with the Buildproof wizards, you'll be taken to your Project Page. This is where you'll manage your Project, add additional detail, and make secure payments to your contractor. The main components of the page are buckets and sliders.

What is a bucket?

Buckets are where money is accounted for on your page. There are three buckets on your page, the Safehouse Bucket where the amount of money on account to be paid to the contractor is shown. The Phase Bucket, which shows the dollar amount of work completed by your contractor and the Project Bucket, which show how much a contractor has been paid to date.

What is a slider?

Sliders are used to calculate the amount of work completed on Tasks within your project. As the sliders are moved from left to right, they turn the percentage of work completed on that Task into a corresponding value in dollars. Those dollars are then deposited into the Phase Bucket, showing a running total of the work completed to date.

What is a Task?

A Task is a component of your Project. For example, if you're having your bathroom remodeled, "Install Sink" might be a Task within the Project. If prior to installing the sink your contractor had to remove the old sink, "Demo Sink" might be another Task. Breaking a project into Tasks allows for the documentation of important details that might not be in your contract.

How do I release funds?

The system will alert you when your contractor has indicated he has completed enough work to receive payment. If you agree with the contractor's claim, simply log into your account and click the "Make Payment" button. Funds will then be deposited into your contractor's account.

What if I need to deposit additional funds?

Simply log into your account and push the "Add Funds" button, we'll guide you through the whole process.

How do I communicate with my contractor/homeowner?

While you may have verbal conversations with your contractor that affect the Project, it is extremely important to record those conversations in your Project Page.
If any changes are made on the Project Page, either by you or the contractor, a copy of those changes will be sent to your contractor for approval. Once this happens, a permanent record of your communication is recorded in our system.

Transaction Protection & Security [Back to Top]

How do I know my money is safe?

All funds are held in FDIC insured accounts and every transaction is bonded and insured for the highest degree of security possible. Your money is absolutely safe with Buildproof.

What is the Buildproof Safehouse?

It's the secure account in which your funds are kept until released by you to your contractor.

Once I have deposited funds, can a contractor get to those funds without me releasing them?

Absolutely not; your contractor can only receive his payment if you sign into your account and release it.

Who is holding the funds I deposit?

All funds are held in trust accounts at Buildproof's banking partners.

Dispute Resolution [Back to Top]

What happens if I’m not happy with the work my contractor has done?

Your Buildproof account representative will contact both you and your contractor and make sure we have a thorough understanding of the problem. We will then do everything we can to get the matter solved quickly and efficiently. If necessary, a third party inspection will be used to ensure we have a neutral assessment of the situation.

What happens if we cannot resolve our differences ourselves?

In almost all cases, your account representative can help you come to an agreement. In the rare cases where a mediation inspection is necessary, we'll provide a neutral third party home inspector to conduct an inspection within 48 hours of notification.

Privacy Protection [Back to Top]

What is Buildproof's privacy policy?

Information received when submitting information through our website or when subscribing to our email newsletter is strictly confidential and is never sold, viewed, traded or distributed in any manner to any other party without your permission. You will never receive any unsolicited commercial email messages (SPAM) from Buildproof Inc. or any other company by providing any information to us. Your privacy is extremely important to us.
After opening an account with Buildproof Inc., you may cancel your account at any time by emailing us at customerservice@buildproof.com. Please include in the body of the email your name, user name and any other information which will help us process your request quickly. Buildproof Inc. may update this policy to provide greater privacy, but never less. We will notify you about additional privacy protections by placing a prominent notice on our site. If you have additional questions, comments or concerns regarding our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us.

How does Buildproof use my personal information?

We only use your information to ensure the securest transaction possible between parties; no information whatsoever is released for any reason.