Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about held deposits, milestone task checklists, AI photo verification, same-day contractor payouts, and dispute protections.
Held Deposits & Financial Protection
Where is the deposit money held?
Funds are held securely by our regulated payment processing partner in a dedicated project holding account. Neither the contractor nor JobDeposit can take off with unearned funds, and money is released only when verified milestones are achieved.
Does the homeowner approve each payment manually?
No. The homeowner approves the milestone scope and tasks before funding. After that, each milestone is released automatically when every task passes AI photo inspection against that agreed checklist. If the AI is less certain, a JobDeposit senior reviewer checks it before anything is released. Homeowners see every photo and summary and can open a dispute with their own photos, which holds that milestone's funds while it is reviewed.
Why is a held deposit better than a direct cash deposit?
In traditional remodeling, homeowners often hand over a large cash deposit upfront, taking on real risk if a contractor abandons the site. With JobDeposit, funds are confirmed committed before work starts, but remain held safely until progress is proven.
Can a contractor start work without the deposit being funded?
No. The JobDeposit system requires full deposit funding from the homeowner into holding before milestones unlock for work. Contractors can see the deposit is funded before work starts.
AI Photo Verification
How does AI photo inspection work?
Contractors snap photos of finished checklist tasks directly from the job site. Our vision inspection engine (powered by Gemini 3.8 Flash primary with gpt-6.1 fallback) inspects each image against the contracted scope, material specifications, and task requirements.
What issues does the AI flag?
The AI detects missing checklist items, blurry or low-resolution angles, mismatched scopes (such as wrong materials), and duplicate or reused photos. When an issue is found, it delivers clear, plain-English feedback on site.
What happens if a photo is blurry or unclear?
The AI issues an immediate 'retake requested' verdict explaining what was missing or blurry. The contractor can take a new photo on the spot within seconds before leaving the job site.
What if the AI confidence is low?
If an inspection result falls below the confidence threshold, it automatically escalates to human senior review. Neither funds nor project progress are compromised by ambiguity.
Payouts & Contractor Banking
How fast do contractors get paid?
Same day. Once all checklist tasks for a milestone are verified by AI, the milestone release is initiated automatically and transfers directly to the contractor's approved business bank account that day.
Why must contractors connect an approved business bank account?
To ensure professional standards and dispute coverage, payouts transfer exclusively to verified business checking accounts with matching EIN credentials. We do not pay out to personal or unverified accounts.
Are there platform fees deducted from milestone payouts?
During the current demo phase, all transactions are simulated in test mode with zero live charges. In production, a small milestone platform fee (1.5% placeholder) covers AI vision inspection, license/insurance verification, and same-day electronic payout rails.
Disputes & Quality
What happens if a homeowner is dissatisfied with the work?
Homeowners receive a real-time photo feed and AI summary for every completed milestone. If something is flawed or contradicts the agreed scope, the homeowner can open a dispute and upload photo evidence. Milestone funds are held in place until the dispute is resolved.
How does the dispute resolution protocol work?
When a dispute is opened, pending payouts for that milestone are paused immediately. Both parties provide photos and documentation. If work is substandard or incomplete, funds can be withheld or refunded according to our dispute policy.
Can a homeowner withhold payment for tasks outside the agreed scope?
No. The milestone scope and checklist agreed upon before funding govern the inspection. Any new work or additional requests must be handled through a formalized scope change or add-on milestone.
Contractor Onboarding & Trust Badge
How do contractors earn the Verified Pro trust badge?
Contractors submit active business information (EIN), state contractor license details, and active commercial general liability insurance certificates. Once verified, the contractor profile displays the verified trust badge.
What trades does JobDeposit support?
JobDeposit is optimized for small-to-midsize remodeling trades: Kitchen & Bath, Roofing & Siding, Tile & Flooring, and Interior & Exterior Painting.
How do contractor leads work?
Verified contractors receive pre-qualified remodel requests from local homeowners who have specified trade, budget, and project timing. Contractors can accept or decline leads directly from their dashboard inbox.
Have more questions about your project?
Test drive the platform in interactive demo mode or read our complete documentation.