Terms & Conditions

1. AGREEMENT TO TERMS

These Terms & Conditions constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“Homeowner” or “Contractor”) and Proofstead LLC (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), governing your access to and use of Proofstead.com and all related services, features, and content (collectively, the “Platform”). By accessing or using the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted these Terms.

2. SERVICE AREA AND WASHINGTON-ONLY OPERATION

Proofstead currently operates exclusively within the State of Washington and only facilitates jobs located within our defined service area. Service availability may vary by location, trade, scheduling, and contractor availability. We may expand into additional states in the future, at which time these Terms will be updated to reflect applicable jurisdictions and compliance requirements.

3. NATURE OF THE PLATFORM

Proofstead is a technology platform that routes homeowners to independent service professionals and maintains a proof-based documentation ledger (TownPulse™) to record written scope, written change orders, and standardized invoicing.

Not a Contractor. Proofstead LLC is not a general contractor, construction company, or home-improvement contractor. We do not perform trade work, supervise on-site performance, or guarantee workmanship. All trade services are performed by independent third-party contractors.

Independent Relationship. Any contract for repair or home-improvement work is exclusively between the Homeowner and the Contractor. Proofstead is not a party to that agreement.

Vetting and Platform Rules. We perform administrative checks—including identity verification and, where required, licensing, insurance, and bond checks—and require use of written scope and change orders through the Platform. These checks and rules are intended to reduce ambiguity and improve documentation. They do not create a warranty, guarantee, or certification of contractor performance.

4. ELIGIBILITY AND ACCOUNTS

You must be at least 18 years of age to use the Platform. You agree to provide accurate, current information when creating an account and are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.

5. HOMEOWNER RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

Scope Authorization. By clicking “Approve” (or equivalent) on a job scope or change order, you authorize the specific work listed. Written scope and written change orders are the controlling records for documentation and platform-based dispute support.

Payments. If you use on-platform payment, you agree to pay standardized invoices through the Platform via our third-party payment processor(s), including Stripe where applicable. Payment authorization, settlement, receipt delivery, and bank processing may depend on those processors and the banking networks they use. Attempts to circumvent platform fees through off-platform arrangements for jobs initiated on the Platform will void all platform-based documentation protections and may result in suspension or termination of your account.

Access and Site Conditions. You agree to provide reasonable access to the property and to disclose known hazards or conditions that may affect safety or performance.

6. CONTRACTOR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

Independent Status. You are an independent contractor and not an employee, agent, joint venturer, or partner of Proofstead LLC. You are solely responsible for your own taxes, withholdings, tools, insurance, personnel, permits, and business operations.

Licensure and Compliance. You represent and warrant that you hold all required Washington State and local licenses, registrations, permits, and insurance to perform the services you offer within the Service Area. You are solely responsible for code compliance, permits, jobsite safety, and workmanship.

Documentation Requirements. You agree to use the Platform workflow for written scope, written change orders, and standardized invoicing for all jobs routed through Proofstead where those tools are available. Verbal agreements for extra costs are not enforceable through the Platform.

Payout Processing. If a homeowner pays through the Platform, contractor payouts are processed through third-party payment processor(s), including Stripe where applicable. Proofstead may configure, initiate, or track payout routing and status, but actual availability of funds can depend on processor configuration, settlement timing, initial payout holds, fraud or risk review, account verification, weekends, bank holidays, and the receiving bank’s posting timeline. First payouts may take longer than later payouts. Any payout timing examples shown on the Platform, in help content, or in support communications are estimates only and are not guaranteed.

Workmanship Warranty Obligation. As a condition of participation in the Proofstead network, contractors must extend a workmanship warranty to the homeowner covering documented scope on every completed job. The minimum warranty period is determined by the homeowner’s active membership plan:

• Basic plan: 2-year workmanship warranty required.
• Plus plan: 5-year workmanship warranty required.

This warranty obligation runs from the contractor to the homeowner. Proofstead LLC is not a party to the warranty and does not administer warranty claims. Warranty coverage applies only to the documented scope of work approved by the homeowner in writing before labor began. It does not cover new issues outside scope, misuse, pre-existing conditions, or unrelated third-party modifications. Contractors must honor warranty claims for work performed under their documented scope.

7. MEMBERSHIPS, BILLING, AND REFUNDS

Annual Plans. Membership fees are billed annually and prepaid in full for the plan term.

Refund Policy. Membership fees are non-refundable once a homeowner has approved a written scope on their first job, or after 30 days from the date of purchase, whichever occurs first. If neither condition has been met, a full refund may be requested by contacting Proofstead support.

Data on Cancellation. If you cancel your membership, your workspace and all associated documentation—including job scopes, change orders, invoices, and TownPulse records—will remain accessible to you for a minimum of 90 days following cancellation. After that period, Proofstead may archive or delete your records in accordance with its data retention policy.

8. COMMUNICATIONS

Transactional Email. You consent to receive transactional emails relating to your account and Platform activity, including account verification, job updates, scope approvals, invoices, security notices, and support messages.

Marketing Email. If you opt in to marketing communications, you may unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link in the message.

SMS. If you enable SMS notifications, you consent to receive job-related text messages. Standard message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out of non-essential SMS at any time.

9. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Unless otherwise indicated, the Platform and all its content—including source code, databases, software, website design, text, photographs, and graphics (collectively, “Content”)—and all trademarks, service marks, and logos (“Marks”) are owned or controlled by Proofstead LLC and protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

TownPulse™, including its layout, structure, and proof-ledger documentation methodology, is proprietary to Proofstead LLC. You may not copy, reproduce, or reverse-engineer the Platform or its workflow.

10. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PLATFORM AND ALL RELATED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT ROUTING WILL RESULT IN ANY PARTICULAR OUTCOME. CONTRACTOR WORKMANSHIP, TIMELINES, AND JOB PERFORMANCE ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONTRACTOR AND HOMEOWNER UNDER THEIR SEPARATE AGREEMENT.

11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PROOFSTEAD LLC, ITS DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS OR DATA, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM.

PROOFSTEAD LLC’S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO PROOFSTEAD LLC IN THE SIX (6) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

12. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Proofstead LLC and its officers, agents, partners, and employees from any loss, damage, liability, claim, or demand—including reasonable attorneys’ fees—arising from: (1) your use of the Platform; (2) your breach of these Terms; or (3) any negligent, unlawful, or wrongful act or omission connected to a project, including property damage, personal injury, code violations, or unpermitted work.

13. DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ARBITRATION

Informal Resolution First. Before initiating any formal claim, you agree to provide written notice to Proofstead support describing the issue and your requested resolution. The parties will attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute within 30 days of that notice.

Binding Arbitration. If the dispute is not resolved informally, it will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, except as modified here. The arbitration will be conducted in King County, Washington, or by videoconference if both parties agree. The arbitrator’s decision will be final and binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class Action Waiver. YOU AND PROOFSTEAD LLC EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO BRING OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY CLASS ACTION, CLASS ARBITRATION, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. ALL DISPUTES MUST BE BROUGHT IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.

Small Claims Exception. Either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court in King County, Washington, provided the claim qualifies under that court’s jurisdictional limits and is not part of a consolidated or class action.

Governing Law. These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to conflict of law principles. For any claims not subject to arbitration, the state and federal courts located in King County, Washington shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

Opt-Out. You may opt out of the arbitration provision within 30 days of first accepting these Terms by emailing Proofstead support with the subject line “Arbitration Opt-Out” and your name and account email. Opting out does not affect any other provision of these Terms.

14. CHANGES TO TERMS

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by email or by posting a notice on the Platform. Continued use of the Platform after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. CONTACT US

Proofstead LLC

Des Moines, WA

Email: Proofstead support

Support hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Pacific