Terms of Service

By accessing, browsing, or using the Home Harbor Platform in any way — including creating an account, booking a service, listing your services, or simply visiting our website — you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

You must be at least 18 years of age to use the Platform. By using Home Harbor, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years old, that you have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement, and that your use of the Platform does not violate any applicable law or regulation.

If you are using the Platform on behalf of a business or organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms, and "you" refers to both you individually and the entity you represent.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

Home Harbor is a marketplace platform that connects homeowners with vetted service professionals ("Pros") and supervised entry-level workers ("Harbor Helpers") for home maintenance, repair, and improvement services.

Home Harbor is not a service provider. We do not perform home services, employ service professionals, or guarantee the outcome of any work.

What we do provide:

• A curated marketplace of background-checked, credential-verified Pros
• A supervised entry-level program (Harbor Helpers) for basic tasks
• Secure payment processing and escrow services via Stripe
• Masked communication tools to protect your privacy
• A review and rating system to build trust and accountability
• Dispute resolution and customer support
• Milestone-based project management for large jobs

Pros and Harbor Helpers are independent contractors, not employees of Home Harbor. The service agreement for any job is between the homeowner and the Pro or Helper — Home Harbor is not a party to that agreement.

To use most features of the Platform, you must create an account. When registering, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Keep your account credentials secure and confidential
• Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access to your account
• Not create more than one account per person
• Not transfer, sell, or assign your account to another person

We may require identity verification at any time, including government-issued identification, proof of address, or other documentation. Failure to complete verification when requested may result in account restrictions or suspension.

You are solely responsible for all activity that occurs under your account, whether or not you authorized that activity. Home Harbor is not liable for any loss or damage arising from unauthorized use of your account.

The Platform supports several user types, each with specific rights and responsibilities:

Homeowners

• May browse, search, and book services from Pros and Harbor Helpers
• Must provide accurate property and project details for bookings
• Are responsible for providing safe working conditions and reasonable access to the work area
• Must review and approve completed work in a timely manner

Service Professionals ("Pros")

• Operate across three platform tiers: Basic, Verified, and Premium
• Must maintain accurate profiles, credentials, and availability
• Are responsible for the quality of their work and professional conduct
• Must respond to booking requests within 24 hours
• Set their own rates — the quoted rate is their take-home pay

Harbor Helpers

• Entry-level workers approved for specific, lower-risk task categories
• Must complete required training modules before accepting jobs
• Subject to a probationary period and ongoing performance evaluation
• Work under the oversight structure established by the Platform

Organizations

• Property management companies or multi-property owners may create organizational accounts
• May manage multiple properties and users under a single entity
• Organization administrators are responsible for their team members' actions on the Platform

By registering as a Pro on Home Harbor, you represent and warrant that:

• You hold all licenses, permits, and certifications required by applicable local, state, and federal law for the services you offer
• You maintain adequate general liability insurance and, where required, workers' compensation coverage
• You are qualified and competent to perform the services listed in your profile
• You will submit to and pass a background check conducted through our partner, Checkr
• You will keep your credentials current and notify us promptly if any license, insurance, or certification lapses or is revoked

Home Harbor may verify your credentials at any time. If we discover that your licenses, insurance, or certifications have lapsed or are invalid, we may immediately suspend your account and withhold pending payouts until the issue is resolved. Repeated credential lapses may result in permanent removal from the Platform.

Pros are independent contractors. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, partnership, or joint venture relationship between you and Home Harbor. You are solely responsible for your own taxes, insurance, and compliance with applicable labor laws.

The Harbor Helper program provides a pathway for entry-level workers to build skills and a track record on the Platform. Harbor Helpers:

• Are approved for specific, lower-risk task categories (such as cleaning, yard work, basic organization, and minor repairs)
• Must complete all assigned training modules before accepting their first job
• Enter a probationary period for their first 7 completed jobs, during which their performance is closely monitored
• Receive ratings and feedback that contribute to their progression toward full Pro status
• May be removed from the program for poor performance, safety violations, or failure to meet minimum standards

The Platform provides oversight through the booking system, including job matching, scheduling, customer feedback collection, and performance tracking. Harbor Helpers who successfully graduate from the probationary period may apply for full Pro status.

Homeowners who book Harbor Helpers understand that these workers are entry-level and may have limited experience. Harbor Helper bookings are limited to approved task categories.

All payments on the Platform are processed securely through Stripe. Home Harbor does not store your full credit card or bank account numbers.

How payments work:

• Payment at booking: Homeowners are charged at the time of booking. The funds are held securely in escrow until the work is completed and approved.
• Platform commission: Home Harbor charges a commission of 8–15% depending on the Pro's tier. This fee is embedded in the price the homeowner sees — it is not deducted from the Pro's quoted rate. The rate a Pro sets is their take-home pay.
• Funds release: Once the homeowner approves the completed work, funds are released to the Pro within 2 business days.
• Auto-approval: If a homeowner does not approve or open a dispute within the auto-approval window after work is marked complete, funds are released automatically.
• Tips: Tips are optional and go 100% to the Pro or Helper. Home Harbor does not take any portion of tips.

By using the Platform, you authorize Home Harbor and Stripe to charge, collect, and process payments on your behalf, and to hold funds in escrow as described in these Terms.

Homeowner cancellations:

• 24+ hours before scheduled service: Free cancellation with full refund
• 12–24 hours before scheduled service: $15 flat cancellation fee (paid to the Pro for the blocked time slot)
• Under 12 hours before scheduled service: 25% of booking total (paid to the Pro)
• No-show (no cancellation): 50% of booking total (paid to the Pro)
• 3 or more cancellations within a 30-day period may result in account review and booking restrictions

Pro cancellations:

• 24+ hours before service: Warning on first occurrence; strike on subsequent cancellations within 30 days
• Under 24 hours before service: Automatic strike on the Pro's record
• No-show (failure to arrive): Major strike plus automatic visibility pause
• 3 or more cancellations within 30 days: Automatic visibility pause until reviewed by Home Harbor
• Homeowners receive a full, automatic refund for any Pro-initiated cancellation

Job reassignment:

• Pros may reassign a booking to a qualified team member at least 1 hour before the scheduled service time, without penalty
• The replacement must be an active, verified member of the Pro's crew on the Platform
• Homeowners are notified of any reassignment and may cancel without fee if they prefer not to proceed with the replacement

Important notes:

• Cancellation fees go directly to the affected party
• Emergency exceptions may be granted with documentation — contact support
• Milestone project phases (Tier 3) can be individually cancelled per the escrow terms in Section 9

For larger projects (Tier 3 bookings), the Platform supports milestone-based payment structures:

• The total project cost is divided into milestones that correspond to phases of work
• Funds for each milestone are held in escrow until the homeowner approves that phase
• Pros may not begin the next milestone until the current one is approved and funded
• Scope changes (additional work, material changes, timeline adjustments) must be submitted through the Platform and approved by the homeowner before any cost adjustments take effect
• If a dispute arises during a milestone, the escrowed funds for that milestone are held until the dispute is resolved

Both parties agree that the milestone structure and escrow protections are fundamental to the Tier 3 booking process. Attempting to circumvent the escrow system — including requesting or making payments outside the Platform — is a violation of these Terms and may result in account suspension.

Honest reviews are essential to the trust and transparency of the Home Harbor marketplace. Our review system operates under these rules:

• Only verified booking participants (the homeowner and the Pro for a given job) may leave reviews — there are no anonymous reviews
• Reviews must be submitted within 90 days of job completion
• Only one review is permitted per booking, per party
• Reviews must reflect the reviewer's genuine experience with the service
• Reviews may not contain hate speech, personal attacks, discriminatory language, threats, or content unrelated to the service
• Reviews cannot be purchased, incentivized, or exchanged — offering compensation for a review (positive or negative) is a violation of these Terms

Home Harbor reserves the right to moderate, flag, or remove reviews that violate these guidelines. Pros may respond publicly to reviews. Neither party may harass, threaten, or retaliate against the other for the content of a review.

All communication between homeowners and Pros should take place through the Platform's built-in messaging and calling features:

• Phone numbers are masked through our communication partner (Twilio) — neither party sees the other's real phone number
• Messages and calls are logged for safety and dispute resolution purposes
• The Platform uses automated content moderation to detect and block hate speech, threats, and other prohibited content
• Pros must respond to booking inquiries and messages within 24 hours

All users are expected to maintain a professional, respectful tone in all interactions. The following conduct is prohibited and may result in immediate account suspension:

• Harassment, threats, or intimidation of any kind
• Discriminatory language or behavior based on race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic
• Soliciting business outside the Platform to avoid fees or escrow protections
• Sharing another user's personal information without their consent

We encourage all parties to resolve disagreements constructively. The Platform provides a structured dispute resolution process:

Step 1: Direct Resolution

Parties should first attempt to resolve the issue directly through the Platform's messaging system. Many disputes can be resolved through open communication.

Step 2: Platform Mediation

If direct resolution fails, either party may escalate the dispute to the Home Harbor support team. Our team will review the booking details, communications, photos, and any other relevant evidence to facilitate a fair resolution. Mediation decisions may include partial or full refunds, additional work requirements, or other remedies.

Step 3: Binding Arbitration

If the dispute cannot be resolved through mediation, either party may pursue binding arbitration. You agree that:

• Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall be resolved by binding arbitration on an individual basis
• You waive your right to participate in class actions, class arbitrations, or representative proceedings
• Before initiating arbitration, you must first attempt informal resolution by contacting us at support@homeharbor.app and allowing a 30-day resolution period
• Arbitration shall be administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules

Small Claims Exception

Either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court for disputes involving $10,000 or less, provided the claim falls within the court's jurisdiction.

The safety of our users is a top priority. If you experience or witness a safety concern at any time — before, during, or after a service — you should:

• In an emergency, call 911 first. Your physical safety always comes before any platform action.
• Report the concern through the Platform's safety reporting feature, available on every booking detail page
• Include as much detail as possible: description of the incident, photos or evidence, and the booking reference number

Home Harbor investigates all safety reports promptly, typically within 24 hours of receipt. During an investigation, the Platform may suspend the reported user's account as a precautionary measure. We cooperate with law enforcement when required and may share relevant information in response to valid legal processes.

Filing a false safety report is a serious violation of these Terms and may result in permanent account termination.

Home Harbor and participating Pros may issue service credits or promotional codes from time to time. The following terms apply:

• Credits and promo codes have expiration dates, which are displayed at the time of issuance
• Credits cannot be redeemed for cash, transferred to another user, or combined with other offers unless explicitly stated
• Home Harbor reserves the right to modify or discontinue any promotional program at any time
• Abuse of promotional offers (including creating multiple accounts to redeem offers) is a violation of these Terms
• Home Harbor is not responsible for promotional offers made by third parties or individual Pros outside the Platform

Home Harbor allows users to purchase services as gifts for others. Gift terms:

• Gift purchases are non-refundable once the gift code has been delivered to the recipient
• Gift codes are transferable — the recipient may pass the gift to another person
• Gift codes expire 1 year from the date of purchase
• Unused gift balance may be applied to any available service category on the Platform
• Gift codes have no cash value and cannot be redeemed for cash
• Lost or stolen gift codes should be reported to support@homeharbor.app promptly

The Home Harbor name, logo, website design, software, and all associated content (including text, graphics, icons, and code) are the property of Home Harbor, Inc. and are protected by U.S. and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any Platform content without our prior written consent.

User-generated content:

• You retain ownership of content you submit to the Platform, including photos, reviews, portfolio images, and profile information
• By submitting content, you grant Home Harbor a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute that content on and in connection with the Platform
• This license continues even if you delete your account, to the extent that your content has been shared with or relied upon by other users (for example, reviews of a Pro remain visible)
• You represent that you own or have the necessary rights to the content you submit and that it does not infringe on any third party's rights

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:

• Home Harbor's total cumulative liability to you for any and all claims arising out of or related to these Terms or the Platform shall not exceed the lesser of (a) the total platform fees you have paid to Home Harbor in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) five hundred dollars ($500).
• Home Harbor is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses.
• Home Harbor is not liable for any property damage, personal injury, or other harm resulting from services performed by Pros or Harbor Helpers. The service agreement is between you and the service provider.
• Home Harbor is not liable for the actions, omissions, or conduct of any user, whether online or offline.

The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of liability. In such jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Home Harbor, Inc., its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use of or access to the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any applicable law, regulation, or third-party right
• Any services you provide or receive through the Platform
• Any content you submit, post, or transmit through the Platform
• Any dispute between you and another user of the Platform

This indemnification obligation survives the termination of your account and these Terms.

Home Harbor may suspend, restrict, or permanently terminate your account at our sole discretion if we determine that:

• You have violated these Terms or any applicable law
• Your conduct poses a safety risk to other users or the public
• You have engaged in fraudulent, deceptive, or abusive behavior
• Your account has been inactive for an extended period (12 months or more)
• It is necessary to protect the integrity of the Platform

If your account is suspended, you may appeal the decision within 30 days by contacting support@homeharbor.app with a written explanation. We will review appeals and respond within 14 business days.

You may voluntarily close your account at any time through your account settings or by contacting support. Upon account closure:

• Any pending bookings must be completed or cancelled before closure
• Outstanding payouts will be processed to your linked payment account
• Your data will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy
• Reviews you have left will remain visible in anonymized form

We may revise these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or business practices. When we make material changes:

• We will provide at least 30 days' advance notice via email and/or a prominent notice on the Platform
• The updated Terms will include a revised "Last updated" date at the top
• Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of the revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes
• If you do not agree with the revised Terms, you must stop using the Platform before the changes take effect

For non-material changes (such as formatting or clarification), we may update the Terms without advance notice. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or related to them or the Platform shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona, without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions.

To the extent that litigation is permitted under these Terms (including small claims court proceedings), you agree that the exclusive venue for any such proceedings shall be the state and federal courts located in Maricopa County, Arizona. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Home Harbor regarding the Platform and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

Severability. If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Waiver. Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not be considered a waiver of that right or provision.

Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights under them without our prior written consent. Home Harbor may assign these Terms without restriction.

Force Majeure. Home Harbor is not liable for any delay or failure to perform resulting from causes beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, pandemics, government actions, or internet outages.

If you have questions or concerns about these Terms of Service, please reach out to us:

• Email: support@homeharbor.app
• Legal inquiries: legal@homeharbor.app
• Mail: Home Harbor, Inc., Phoenix, AZ

We aim to respond to all inquiries within 5 business days.