Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, accessing, or using Housestars, you agree to comply with and be legally bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our services.

2. Service Description

Housestars is a marketplace platform that connects users with verified home service providers including cleaners, handymen, plumbers, and other professionals. We facilitate connections but do not provide the services directly.

Key Points:

• We are a marketplace platform, not a service provider
• We facilitate connections between users and service professionals
• All service providers are independent contractors
• We screen and verify service providers but do not employ them

3. User Accounts

Account Creation

To use our services, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Provide accurate and complete information
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Promptly update any changes to your information

Account Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

• All activities that occur under your account
• Maintaining the confidentiality of your password
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access
• Ensuring your account information remains accurate

4. Booking and Payment

Service Bookings

When you book a service through Housestars:

• You enter into a direct agreement with the service provider
• Prices are displayed upfront with no hidden fees
• Bookings are subject to service provider availability
• You must provide accurate service location and requirements

Payment Terms

• Payment is processed through our secure payment gateway
• You authorize us to charge your payment method
• Prices include applicable taxes and fees
• Payment is due upon service completion unless otherwise stated

5. Cancellation and Refunds

Cancellation Policy

• Free Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours before service for full refund
• Late Cancellation: Cancellations within 24 hours may incur a fee
• No-Show: Full charge applies if you're not available at scheduled time

Refund Policy

We offer refunds or re-service in the following cases:

• Service not completed as agreed
• Quality issues reported within 24 hours
• Service provider no-show
• Documented service deficiencies

6. User Conduct

You agree not to:

• Provide false or misleading information
• Use the platform for any illegal purpose
• Harass, abuse, or harm service providers or other users
• Circumvent our payment system to avoid fees
• Post inappropriate, offensive, or defamatory content
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Scrape, copy, or misuse platform content or data

7. Service Provider Terms

Provider Status

Service providers on Housestars are independent contractors, not employees. They:

• Set their own schedules and availability
• Are responsible for their own tools and equipment
• Maintain their own insurance and licenses
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

Provider Standards

All service providers must:

• Pass background checks and verification
• Maintain professional conduct
• Complete services as agreed
• Maintain minimum quality standards

8. Satisfaction Guarantee

We stand behind the quality of services provided through our platform:

• Report any issues within 24 hours of service completion
• We will arrange a free re-service or provide a partial refund
• Claims must be documented with photos or evidence
• Repeated false claims may result in account suspension

9. Intellectual Property

All content on Housestars, including logos, text, graphics, and software, is owned by Housestars or our licensors and protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws.

You may not:

• Copy, modify, or distribute our content without permission
• Use our trademarks or branding without authorization
• Reverse engineer or decompile our software
• Create derivative works based on our platform

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• Housestars is not liable for services provided by independent contractors
• We are not responsible for property damage or personal injury
• Our liability is limited to the amount paid for the service
• We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Service providers maintain their own insurance and liability coverage

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Housestars, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from:

• Your use of the platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
• Services provided by service providers

12. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution

We encourage users to contact us first to resolve disputes informally through our customer support team.

Arbitration

Any disputes not resolved informally will be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of [Arbitration Organization] rather than in court.

Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes on an individual basis and waive any right to participate in class action lawsuits.

13. Privacy and Data

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

14. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting to the platform. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

We will notify users of material changes via:

• Email notification
• In-app notification
• Platform announcement

15. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you:

• Violate these Terms
• Engage in fraudulent activity
• Abuse or harass service providers or users
• Fail to pay for services

Upon termination, you must cease all use of the platform and may forfeit any pending bookings or credits.

16. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [Your Jurisdiction], without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal action must be brought in the courts of [Your Jurisdiction].

17. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us: