CONTRACTOR TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

By registering for a listing on Anderson SC Home Services Directory ("Directory," "we," "us," "our"), you ("Contractor," "you," "your") agree to be bound by these Contractor Terms and Conditions ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not register or use our services.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement. By submitting your registration and payment, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all terms herein.

2. DIRECTORY LISTING SERVICE DESCRIPTION

2.1 What We Provide

Anderson SC Home Services Directory operates as an online listing and lead generation service connecting homeowners with contractors in Anderson County, South Carolina. Our service includes:

• Business Listing: Your company name, contact information, and services displayed on our website
• Profile Page: A dedicated profile showcasing your business (features vary by tier)
• Lead Notifications: Email and SMS alerts when homeowners request services in your categories
• Lead Generation: Connection between homeowners and your business
• Optional AI Services: Automated marketing and communication tools (Premium tier only)

2.2 What We Are NOT

CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING: We are a listing service like a phone book. We are NOT:

• ❌ An employment agency - we do not employ contractors
• ❌ A verification service - we do not verify licenses, insurance, or credentials
• ❌ A quality assurance service - we do not inspect or guarantee your work
• ❌ A dispute resolution service - we do not mediate customer complaints
• ❌ A legal services provider - we do not provide contracts, forms, or waivers
• ❌ An insurance provider - we do not provide insurance coverage
• ❌ A referral agency - we do not endorse or recommend any contractors

You are an independent business. We simply provide a platform where homeowners can find your business and contact you.

3. DIRECTORY LISTING TIERS & PRICING

3.1 Three-Tier Structure

We offer three directory listing tiers with different features and visibility levels. All directory listing fees are ONE-TIME, not monthly. Your listing remains active indefinitely once published.

3.2 Premium AI Services - $197/Month (Optional Add-On)

3.3 Payment Terms

Directory Listing Fees:

• Basic ($99), Standard ($199), and Premium ($299) are ONE-TIME payments
• Due at time of registration
• Payment processed via secure Stripe payment link
• Non-refundable once your profile is published
• Your listing remains active indefinitely (no monthly fees)

Premium AI Services Fee:

• $197/month recurring subscription
• Billed monthly on the anniversary of your start date
• Automatically charged to card on file
• Plus SMS messaging costs ($20-30/month typical, billed separately)
• Cancel anytime - no contract or cancellation fees

Late Payment:

• For AI Services: If payment fails, services suspend immediately until payment received
• After 15 days of non-payment, AI Services canceled and must be reactivated with new setup
• Directory listing remains active (one-time fee already paid)

4. INSURANCE & LICENSING - SELF-CERTIFICATION MODEL

4.1 Self-Reporting Requirements

What You Must Do:

• Accurately report whether you have insurance (YES or NO)
• If you have insurance, accurately report your coverage amount
• Upload your insurance certificate if you want it displayed (optional for Standard, required for Premium badge)
• Update us immediately if your insurance status changes (canceled, expired, coverage amount changed)
• Accurately report your business license status

What We Do:

• Display the insurance status YOU report to us
• Display the insurance certificate YOU upload (if any)
• Add badges to your profile based on tier: "Independent Contractor" (Basic), "Self-Reported Insured" (Standard), "Self-Reported Premium Insured" (Premium)
• Include disclaimer on all profiles: "Insurance information self-reported by contractor - not verified by directory"

What We DO NOT Do:

• ❌ Call your insurance agent to verify coverage
• ❌ Verify insurance certificates are authentic
• ❌ Check with South Carolina LLR to verify licenses
• ❌ Track your insurance expiration dates
• ❌ Remind you when insurance expires
• ❌ Monitor whether your license is current
• ❌ Remove your listing if insurance lapses (unless we receive complaints)

4.2 Basic Tier Contractors (Uninsured)

If you join at Basic Tier without insurance:

• Your profile will clearly display "Independent Contractor" (not "insured")
• Customers will see you do not have insurance BEFORE contacting you
• Your responsibility: You must inform customers verbally that you don't have insurance
• Your responsibility: You must provide your own contracts and legal forms
• Your responsibility: Advise customers to check their homeowner's insurance
• We recommend getting insurance as your business grows so you can upgrade tiers

4.3 False Information - Consequences

If you provide false insurance information:

• Customers may sue you directly for fraud or misrepresentation
• You may face South Carolina licensing board violations
• We may remove your listing immediately upon receiving complaints
• No refund of directory listing fee
• You remain liable for any customer damages

We are NOT liable if you lie about insurance. Customers who hire you based on false information must pursue you directly, not us. We are a listing service that displays what you tell us.

5. PROFILE MANAGEMENT - NO CONTRACTOR PORTAL

5.1 How Your Profile Works

There is NO contractor portal or self-service dashboard. You cannot log in to manage your own listing.

Initial Profile Creation:

• After you register and pay, our team contacts you via email/phone (within 1-2 business days)
• We request business photos, detailed service descriptions, and any additional information
• We build your professional profile page using the information you provide
• Your profile goes live within 24-48 hours after we receive all materials

Profile Updates & Changes:

• Email us at [email protected] with update requests
• Call us at (864) 527-2499 during business hours
• We process updates within 24-48 hours (usually faster)
• Common updates: New photos, service description changes, phone number changes, insurance certificate updates

Why No Contractor Portal:

• Keeps all profiles looking professional and consistent
• Prevents accidental deletion or formatting errors
• We handle the technical aspects so you can focus on your business
• Quality control - we ensure your profile looks great

5.2 What You're Responsible For

• Accurate Information: Providing truthful business information, insurance status, service descriptions
• Current Contact Info: Keeping your phone number and email current so you receive leads
• Photo Quality: Providing professional, high-quality photos of your work
• Insurance Updates: Notifying us if insurance status changes or certificate expires
• Timely Communication: Responding to our requests for information or materials

6. LEAD GENERATION & NOTIFICATION

6.1 How Leads Work

When a homeowner submits a service request in your category:

• You receive an instant email notification with homeowner's contact information and project details
• You also receive an SMS text notification (if you opted in)
• Lead notification includes: Name, phone, email, location, service requested, project description, timeline, budget (if provided)
• You decide whether to contact the homeowner and pursue the job

6.2 Lead Distribution

Up to 3 contractors receive each lead:

• We send each homeowner request to a maximum of 3 contractors in the relevant service category
• Higher tier contractors get priority in lead distribution (Premium first, then Standard, then Basic)
• You compete with up to 2 other contractors for each lead
• Fastest response time typically wins the job

6.3 Optional Lead Purchases

Lead purchases are completely separate and optional from your directory listing.

• You can choose to purchase individual leads or pass on them
• Lead pricing varies by project type and service category
• Most leads range from $25 to $200+ depending on project value
• See our separate Lead Pricing page for detailed pricing
• You're never required to purchase leads - your listing works regardless

7. CONTRACTOR OBLIGATIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

7.1 Professional Conduct

You agree to:

• Respond to customer inquiries promptly and professionally
• Provide accurate estimates and project timelines
• Perform quality work according to industry standards
• Maintain valid business licenses required for your trade
• Maintain insurance if you claim to have it
• Treat customers with respect and professionalism
• Honor your quotes and commitments to customers
• Comply with all applicable South Carolina laws and regulations

7.2 What You Must Provide to Customers

You are responsible for providing your own:

• Written estimates and quotes
• Contracts for customer jobs
• Warranties and guarantees (if offered)
• Liability waivers (if needed)
• Insurance certificates (if customers request them)
• Permits and inspections (as required by law)

We do NOT provide contracts, forms, or legal documents. Consult with an attorney about what forms you need for your business.

7.3 Prohibited Conduct

You may NOT:

• Provide false information about licenses, insurance, experience, or credentials
• Engage in fraudulent, deceptive, or unethical business practices
• Harass, threaten, or abuse customers
• Violate South Carolina contractor licensing laws
• Request that customers pay you outside normal business practices to avoid taxes
• Subcontract work to unlicensed contractors (where licenses required)
• Use our platform for any illegal purposes

8. LIABILITY & DISCLAIMERS

8.1 What We Are NOT Liable For

We have NO liability for:

• Quality of work you perform for customers
• Accuracy of estimates or quotes you provide
• Your failure to complete jobs
• Damage you cause to customer property
• Injuries occurring on job sites
• Disputes between you and customers
• Your violation of licensing or insurance laws
• Accuracy of insurance information you provide
• Your failure to maintain valid insurance
• Customer complaints about your work
• Lead quality, accuracy, or quantity
• Whether customers actually hire you

8.2 Indemnification (You Protect Us)

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Anderson SC Home Services Directory from any claims, lawsuits, damages, or costs arising from:

• Your work performed for customers
• Your violations of laws or regulations
• Your provision of false information
• Disputes with customers
• Property damage or injuries caused by you or your employees
• Your failure to maintain required licenses or insurance

Translation: If a customer sues us because of something you did (or didn't do), you agree to cover our legal costs and damages. We're just a listing service - you're responsible for your own business operations.

8.3 No Guarantees

We make NO guarantees about:

• Number of leads you'll receive
• Quality of leads
• Lead accuracy (some leads may have wrong contact info)
• Whether leads will hire you
• Your business success using our platform
• Website uptime or availability
• Search engine rankings

9. TERMINATION

9.1 You Can Cancel

Directory Listing:

• You can request to remove your listing anytime by emailing or calling us
• We'll remove your profile within 1-2 business days
• No refund of your one-time listing fee ($99/$199/$299)
• You can reactivate later by paying a new setup fee

Premium AI Services:

• Cancel anytime by emailing or calling us
• Services stop at end of current billing period
• Current month is non-refundable
• No cancellation fees

9.2 We Can Terminate You

We may remove your listing immediately for:

• Providing false information about licenses or insurance
• Engaging in fraudulent or illegal conduct
• Serious customer complaints about misconduct or fraud
• Violation of these Terms
• Harassment of customers or our staff
• Non-payment (for AI Services only - directory listing stays active)

If we terminate you:

• No refund of directory listing fee
• AI Services canceled immediately
• You may not re-register without our approval

10. MODIFICATIONS TO TERMS

We may modify these Terms at any time by posting updated Terms on our website with a new "Last Updated" date. Material changes will be communicated via email. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

11. GOVERNING LAW & DISPUTE RESOLUTION

These Terms are governed by the laws of South Carolina. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Anderson County, South Carolina. You waive any right to class action lawsuits and agree to resolve disputes individually.

12. CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions about these Terms or your listing:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (864) 527-2499
• Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST

13. ACKNOWLEDGMENT