Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the website, memberships, and services provided by The HouseMan ("The HouseMan," "we," "us," or "our"). By creating an account, purchasing a membership, or booking a service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the site or services.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into a binding contract. Services are available only within our stated service area (Waterloo Region and surrounding area, subject to change).

3. Memberships and Credits

• Memberships provide prepaid credit-hours redeemable for eligible home maintenance services.
• Credits are valid for twelve (12) months from the date of purchase and expire thereafter, whether used or not.
• Credits are non-refundable and hold no cash value. Credits may not be transferred to other individuals or applied to service addresses other than the member's registered address (except gift cards as issued) unless expressly agreed to in writing by The HouseMan.
• Payment may be made as a lump sum or on a monthly plan where offered. Missed monthly payments may result in suspension of credits or membership.
• Actual time worked is logged by the assigned contractor upon completion and deducted from your balance. Time is rounded per our standard billing increments.

4. Bookings, Rescheduling, and Cancellations

• Bookings are subject to availability and confirmation. Requested times are not guaranteed until confirmed.
• Cancellations or reschedules require at least twelve (12) hours' notice before the scheduled start time. Late cancellations or no-shows will result in a deduction of one (1) credit-hour for every two (2) hours originally booked, to compensate for the reserved contractor time.
• We reserve the right to reschedule visits for weather, safety, contractor availability, or force majeure events.

5. Scope of Services

Services are limited to general residential maintenance tasks reasonably within the skill set of our contractors. Work requiring licensed trades (including but not limited to major electrical, gas, HVAC, structural, or regulated plumbing work) will be arranged through third-party licensed providers where possible; separate terms and charges from those providers may apply. The HouseMan does not itself perform regulated trade work unless expressly stated in writing.

6. Property Access and Customer Responsibilities

• You are responsible for providing safe, lawful access to the property at the scheduled time.
• You represent that you own the property or are authorized to request the work performed.
• You are responsible for securing pets, valuables, and fragile items prior to a visit.
• You must disclose known hazards (asbestos, mold, lead, electrical issues, pests, etc.) before work begins.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

The site and services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, workmanship beyond reasonable industry standards, non-infringement, or uninterrupted availability.

We do not warrant that any repair or maintenance will resolve underlying issues, prevent future damage, or bring a property into code compliance. Recommendations are informational only and are not a substitute for professional inspection by a licensed engineer, inspector, or trade professional.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, The HouseMan, its owners, employees, and contractors shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, revenue, data, or use, arising out of or related to your use of the site or services. Our total aggregate liability for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the services shall not exceed the amount you paid to The HouseMan in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud.

9. Insurance and Claims

The HouseMan maintains commercial liability coverage for its operations. Any claim for damage allegedly caused during a visit must be reported in writing to contact@thehouseman.ca within seventy-two (72) hours of the visit, with photographs and a description of the alleged damage, to allow reasonable investigation.

10. Contractors

Contractors performing work may be employees or independent contractors of The HouseMan. Where independent, they are engaged to perform services on our behalf under our standards; however, The HouseMan's liability remains limited as set forth in Section 8.

11. Accounts and Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access. We may suspend or terminate accounts for abuse, fraud, non-payment, or violation of these Terms.

12. Intellectual Property

The HouseMan name, logo, site content, and materials are owned by The HouseMan or its licensors and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, or use them without prior written permission.

13. Privacy

Information you provide is used to deliver services, manage bookings, and communicate with you. We do not sell personal information. Contact us at contact@thehouseman.ca for privacy inquiries.

14. Changes to the Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the effective date above. Continued use of the site or services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. The courts located in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms, subject to any non-waivable consumer rights.

16. Project Time Estimates and Premium Rates

The HouseMan reserves the right to determine, in its reasonable professional judgment, the amount of time a project is expected to take, the number of credit-hours that will be applied to a given project, and whether any premium rates apply (for example, for after-hours work, urgent requests, or tasks requiring specialized skill or equipment). Wherever practical, we will discuss the expected time and any premium rate with the client in advance and work in good faith to reach mutual agreement before work begins. Once work is underway, actual time is logged by the assigned contractor and deducted from the client's balance in accordance with Section 3.

17. Specialized Trades

The HouseMan does not itself perform specialized or regulated trade work (including but not limited to licensed electrical, gas, HVAC, structural, or regulated plumbing work). Where such work is required, we will, at the client's request and on the client's behalf, source and coordinate a qualified third-party trades person. Coordination fees or credit-hour deductions may apply for the time spent sourcing, scheduling, and overseeing that work. Any charges from the third-party trades person are the responsibility of the client and are governed by that provider's own terms.

18. Supplies, Materials, and Tools

Any costs for supplies, materials, parts, or specialty tools required to complete a project that fall outside of The HouseMan's standard operating equipment will be billed to the homeowner. With the homeowner's prior permission, such costs will be charged to the payment method on file. Wherever reasonably possible we will provide an estimate before purchase; in urgent situations we will confirm with the homeowner before incurring material expense.

19. Property Damage Disclaimer

Except to the extent caused by The HouseMan's gross negligence or willful misconduct, The HouseMan is not responsible for any damage to the home, its contents, systems, finishes, or surrounding property that exists before, occurs during, or is discovered after a visit or appointment. Homes contain hidden conditions (aging materials, prior repairs, concealed defects) that can fail in the ordinary course of maintenance work. Any claim for damage must be reported in accordance with Section 9, and our total liability is subject to Section 8.

20. Contact

Questions about these Terms may be sent to contact@thehouseman.ca or by phone: Metro Vancouver 778-318-7370 · Waterloo Region 519-572-2130.