Your Money Stays Safe Until the Work is Done.
Renovation escrow is a payment protection system that holds your money securely while the work gets done. Instead of handing a contractor a deposit and hoping for the best, you fund each stage of your project into escrow — and the money is only released when you review the completed work and approve it. On Dwell Cloud, that money is held through Stripe, released milestone by milestone, and backed by a real dispute process. You stay in control of every dollar, from the first payment to the last.
Because Hope is Not a Payment Strategy.
The traditional way to pay a contractor is built on trust you haven't earned yet. You meet someone, you like them, and you hand over a deposit that's often thousands of dollars — before a single board is cut. From that moment, the leverage is theirs. If the work stalls, if the quality slips, if they simply stop showing up, your money is already gone.
Stolen deposits and half-finished jobs are among the most common complaints homeowners have about renovations. Not because most contractors are dishonest — the vast majority aren't — but because the payment model gives you no protection when something does go wrong.
Escrow flips that. Your money is committed to the project, so the contractor knows it's real and funded. But it isn't theirs until you say the work is done. That single change rebalances the entire relationship in your favor.
Stage by Stage. Dollar by Dollar. You Stay in Control.
Every project on Dwell Cloud is broken into milestones — clear stages of work, each with its own dollar amount. Here's how the money moves.
- 1
You fund the milestone.
When you accept a bid, you fund the first milestone into escrow. The money leaves your account and is held securely through Stripe — not paid to the contractor, just committed to the project.
- 2
The contractor does the work.
Knowing the funds are secured, the contractor completes that stage of the project — demolition, rough-in, finishing, whatever the milestone covers.
- 3
They submit proof.
The contractor uploads photos and documentation showing the milestone is complete, and submits it for your review.
- 4
You review and approve.
You check the work against the agreed scope. If you're satisfied, you approve the milestone — and only then does the payment release to the contractor.
- 5
You fund the next stage.
With the first milestone approved and paid, you fund the next one, and the cycle repeats until the project is complete.
What if you're NOT satisfied?
You don't approve the milestone — you flag it. A structured dispute thread opens where both you and the contractor present your case with photos and documentation. Dwell Cloud reviews the original scope, the evidence, and the message history, then issues a resolution. Because the money is still sitting in escrow, we can actually enforce the outcome — a partial release, a full refund, or release as agreed. You're never left arguing with a contractor who already has your cash.
The escrow release cycle
- 1Fund Milestone
- 2Contractor Completes Work
- 3Submits Photos & Docs
- 4You Review & Approve
- 5Payment Releases
- 6Fund Next Milestone
Milestone-Based is Better. Here's Why.
Not all payment protection is equal. Holding the entire project cost until the very end sounds safe, but it punishes both sides on a big job. Here's how the three approaches compare.
Milestone Escrow
Dwell Cloud
- Payment released stage by stage as you approve
- You never pay ahead of completed work
- Contractor is paid promptly for finished milestones
- Disputes resolved with funds held as leverage
All-or-Nothing Escrow
Some platforms
- Full amount held until the whole project is done
- Fine for a small job, painful on a large one
- Contractor waits months to see any money
- Little protection for either side mid-project
No Escrow
Directories & DIY
- You write a deposit check and hope
- Money is gone before work is verified
- No leverage if the job stalls
- Disputes are your problem alone
When the Scope Changes, the Escrow Adapts.
Almost every renovation changes as it goes. A wall comes down and reveals old wiring. A backordered tile forces a switch. Escrow wouldn't be much use if it couldn't handle that — so it does, through formal change orders.
When something needs to change, the contractor submits a change order explaining what's different, why, what it costs, and how it affects the timeline. You approve, negotiate, or decline. Approved changes adjust the milestone amounts, and the money held in escrow adjusts to match. Nothing moves without your sign-off, and every change stays on the record.
How a change order flows
- 1Contractor Submits Change Order
- 2You Review the Details
- 3Approve, Negotiate, or Decline
- 4Milestones Adjust
- 5Escrow Updates
- 6Work Continues
Your Money Stays Protected.
Post your project and pay through milestone escrow — funds released only when you approve the work.