Question 1

What is Dwell Cloud?

Accepted Answer

Dwell Cloud is a residential contractor-bidding marketplace. Homeowners post renovation projects, verified contractors submit competitive bids, and every payment is protected through milestone-based escrow. Instead of chasing contractors, you post once and they come to you.

Question 2

Who is Dwell Cloud for?

Accepted Answer

It's for homeowners planning any home project — from a single repair to a full renovation — and for verified contractors who want real projects without paying for leads. Landlords, investors, and property managers can also manage projects across multiple properties from one account.

Question 3

How is this different from a directory like HomeAdvisor or Angi?

Accepted Answer

Directories hand you a list of names and leave you to chase quotes and hope for the best. On Dwell Cloud, verified contractors compete for your project with detailed, comparable proposals, and every payment is protected through milestone escrow. If something goes wrong, the platform holds the money and resolves it.

Question 4

How long does it take to get bids?

Accepted Answer

Most projects receive their first bid within 24-48 hours. The number of bids depends on your location, project type, and how many verified contractors are in your area. You set the bidding deadline and the minimum number of bids you want before choosing.

Question 5

Do I have to pick the cheapest bid?

Accepted Answer

No. And we'd encourage you not to. The bid comparison view shows you everything — price, timeline, milestones, contractor rating, portfolio, team, verification status. A detailed proposal from a highly rated, insured contractor is often worth more than a vague low-ball quote. You pick the best fit, not the lowest number.

Question 6

What if I don't know what I need?

Accepted Answer

That's completely normal. Our "I'm not sure" guided flow walks you through simple questions — where in your home, what's going on, how big of a job — and recommends the right project category for you. You can also describe it in your own words and we'll help sort it out.

Question 7

What happens if the contractor does bad work?

Accepted Answer

Flag the milestone. A structured dispute process opens where both sides present their case with documentation and photos. Dwell Cloud reviews everything and issues a resolution. Because your money is held in escrow, we can enforce outcomes — partial release, full refund, whatever the situation calls for. You're not left on your own.

Question 8

What if the scope changes mid-project?

Accepted Answer

It happens on almost every renovation. The contractor submits a formal change order through the app explaining what changed, why, and what it costs. You approve it, negotiate, or decline. Nothing changes without your sign-off, and everything is documented.

Question 9

Can I see the contractor's insurance and credentials?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every contractor's verification status is visible on their profile. You can see whether they're ID-verified, insured, and what optional credentials they hold (WorkSafe clearance, trade licenses, certifications). If their insurance lapses, the platform flags it.

Question 10

Do contractors see my address?

Accepted Answer

Not until you hire one. While your project is collecting bids, contractors see your general location — neighborhood or city — but not your exact address. Once you accept a bid, the winning contractor gets your full project address. The other bidders never see it.

Question 11

Is there a contract?

Accepted Answer

When you accept a bid, the proposal itself — scope, price, milestones, timeline — serves as the agreement between you and the contractor. Dwell Cloud's Terms of Service govern how the platform facilitates the transaction, including escrow, dispute resolution, and platform fees. For larger projects, we recommend having your contractor provide a formal contract as well.

Question 12

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

Credit cards and debit cards processed through Stripe. All payments are PCI-compliant and encrypted.

Question 13

Can I hire a contractor I've used before?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Save contractors to your favorites and invite them directly to bid on future projects. They get a direct notification and can skip the open marketplace for that project.

Question 14

What does it cost to join?

Accepted Answer

Nothing. Creating your account, completing verification, browsing projects, and submitting bids are all free. You only pay a 10% platform fee on completed milestones after the homeowner approves your work and payment releases.

Question 15

How many projects will I see?

Accepted Answer

That depends on your location, your trades, and your service radius. The more trades you cover and the wider your radius, the more projects you'll match with. You get notified by email and push notification every time a new project matches your profile.

Question 16

What if I bid and don't win?

Accepted Answer

You pay nothing. Bidding is free. You only pay the 10% platform fee when you actually win a project, complete a milestone, and the homeowner approves. If you bid on 20 projects and win 3, you pay nothing on the 17 you didn't win.

Question 17

How fast do I get paid?

Accepted Answer

Once a homeowner approves a milestone, payment releases to your connected Stripe account. Typical deposit timing is 2-5 business days depending on your bank and Stripe's processing schedule.

Question 18

What if the homeowner doesn't approve the milestone?

Accepted Answer

If a homeowner doesn't respond after you submit a milestone, Dwell Cloud follows up on your behalf. If they flag an issue, a structured dispute process opens. Both sides present their case — your photos, documentation, the original scope, the message thread. Dwell Cloud reviews and resolves, typically within 48 hours. Because the money is in escrow, your funds are protected the entire time.

Question 19

Do I need insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Active business insurance (general liability) is one of the six mandatory verification requirements. The platform tracks your insurance expiry date and alerts you 30 days before it lapses. If it expires, your bidding ability is paused until you upload a renewed certificate.

Question 20

Is WorkSafe/workers' comp required?

Accepted Answer

No. It's optional. But if you have it, it shows as a verified badge on your profile — which gives homeowners additional confidence when comparing bids.

Question 21

Can I work with other platforms too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There's no exclusivity requirement. Use Dwell Cloud alongside whatever other lead sources you have. Most contractors find they spend less on other platforms over time as Dwell Cloud projects fill their schedule.

Question 22

Who holds my money in escrow?

Accepted Answer

Funds are held through Stripe, the same payment infrastructure trusted by companies like Amazon, Shopify, and Lyft. Your money isn't in the contractor's hands and it isn't spent — it's held securely until you approve the completed milestone and authorize its release.

Question 23

When is the money released to the contractor?

Accepted Answer

Only when you approve a completed milestone. The contractor finishes the stage of work, submits photos and documentation, and you review it. If you're satisfied, you approve and the funds release. If you're not, you flag it and a dispute process opens before any money changes hands.

Question 24

What happens if I'm not satisfied with the work?

Accepted Answer

You flag the milestone instead of approving it. A structured dispute thread opens where both sides present their case with photos and documentation. Dwell Cloud reviews the original scope, the evidence, and the message history, then issues a resolution. Because we hold the funds, we can enforce the outcome — partial release, full refund, or release as agreed.

Question 25

Do I have to fund the whole project up front?

Accepted Answer

No. You fund one milestone at a time. Once you approve a completed milestone and its payment releases, you fund the next one. You're never paying for work that hasn't been done, and you're never holding the contractor hostage for work they've completed.

Question 26

What if the scope changes and the price changes?

Accepted Answer

The contractor submits a formal change order describing what changed, why, the cost adjustment, and the timeline impact. You approve, negotiate, or decline it. Approved changes adjust the milestone amounts, and the escrow adapts accordingly — everything stays documented and nothing moves without your sign-off.

Question 27

How do you verify contractors?

Accepted Answer

Every contractor passes a mandatory six-point verification before they can submit a single bid: government-issued photo ID, active business insurance, a verified bank account, a Google Business profile, a Facebook business page, and a business website. Optional credentials like WorkSafe clearance and trade licenses appear as additional badges.

Question 28

Is my personal information kept private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While your project is collecting bids, contractors see only your general location — neighborhood or city — not your exact address. Your full project address is shared only with the contractor you hire. The other bidders never see it.

Question 29

What if a contractor's insurance expires?

Accepted Answer

The platform tracks each contractor's insurance expiry date and alerts them 30 days before it lapses. If insurance expires, the contractor's ability to bid is paused until they upload a renewed certificate — so every active bid comes from an insured pro.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

For Homeowners

For Contractors

Payments & Escrow

Trust & Safety

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