How ProjectMender works, and what to check yourself
This page explains what ProjectMender does and does not do. It is not a substitute for the terms of service.
What ProjectMender is
ProjectMender is a place for hirers and workers to find each other, talk, agree on a price, and pay for a job. ProjectMender does not hire, schedule, supervise, train or manage anyone who uses it.
What ProjectMender does not do
ProjectMender does not check anyone's license, certification or insurance before they post or accept work. It does not inspect finished work, and it does not guarantee that a worker is who they say they are or that they can do what they've offered.
The one check we do offer is optional: a worker can pay for a background check through our provider, and if it comes back clear, a Verified badge shows next to their name. That badge is not a license, a skills test, or a guarantee.
What to confirm before hiring someone
Before accepting a final quote, check for yourself:
- Whether the job legally needs a licensed professional where you live. Electrical and plumbing work almost always do, which is why ProjectMender doesn't offer those categories.
- Whether the person actually holds the required license, by checking your state's licensing board directly.
- Whether they carry their own liability insurance, especially for higher-value or higher-risk work.
- Their reviews and ratings on ProjectMender, treated as one piece of information rather than a guarantee.
Keep it on ProjectMender
- Keep the conversation in ProjectMender chat until you've agreed on a final quote, so there's a record.
- Never pay outside ProjectMender. Money paid on the site is held until the job is done; money paid off the site isn't.
- Don't share your home address until you've agreed to a quote and are ready for the visit.
- If something feels wrong, use the Report and Block buttons on any profile or conversation.
Held payments
When a hirer pays a final quote, ProjectMender holds that payment and releases it to the worker once the hirer confirms the job is done, or automatically 7 days after the worker marks it done if no problem has been reported. This protects against paying for work that never happened. It is not a quality guarantee, an inspection, or a certification of any kind.
If something goes wrong
Property damage or injury arising from a job is a matter between the hirer and the worker, and their insurers, if any. ProjectMender is not a party to the work performed and does not investigate or arbitrate claims of that kind. For a job that wasn't done as agreed, use Report a problem on the conversation before the payment releases.
If you're in danger, call 911 first. To tell us about someone unsafe, use Report on their profile or conversation, or email support@projectmender.com.