Trust and safety

The money moves when
the work is approved

Payments run through Stripe. Contractors see the money is there before they start, homeowners release it when they approve the work, and every step is on the record for both of you.

Held by Stripe

Each milestone is paid through Stripe and held there. The contractor cannot pay it out to their bank until the milestone is released.

Released on approval

The contractor finishes the stage and requests payment with photos. The homeowner approves it or raises a dispute. If a request goes unanswered for 14 days, our team reviews the record before anything is released.

On the record

The accepted quote is frozen, changes need both sides, and every payment, photo, and message is logged in order.

Questions

What happens if something goes wrong

What if my money disappears?

Payments run through Stripe. Funds are held until the work is approved and the homeowner releases the payment. If you do not respond to a release request for 14 days, or a dispute cannot be settled between you, a member of our team reviews the project record before any money moves, and nothing is released automatically. The full rules are in our Terms. You can see where every payment stands at all times.

What if my contractor flakes out or does bad work?

We cannot guarantee the quality of any contractor’s work. What we can do is keep the payout held until the issue is resolved, which gives you leverage. The project record keeps the accepted quote, photos, messages, and approvals so both sides can see what was agreed. RenovationRoute does not supervise, inspect, or verify the work itself.

What if a homeowner does not pay me?

Before work on a milestone starts, you can see the money is funded. When you finish, you request payment with progress photos. Once the homeowner approves, the payout goes to your bank, usually within 2 to 5 business days. A brand new account’s first payout can take longer while Stripe verifies it.

What if a homeowner does not approve a payout?

The payout stays held. It is released when the homeowner approves, or after our team reviews the record if a request goes unanswered, so the money is not paid out on a whim. If a homeowner goes quiet or disagrees, contact us. We are not a mediator, but we can share the project record with both sides, and our team reviews that record before any held money moves.

What is Quick Pay?

Quick Pay sends payments straight to the contractor without the approval hold. It is only available to contractors with a proven track record: 3 completed projects, $5,000 in approved payments, a 90% or higher approval rating, an account open at least 60 days, and no open payment disputes or chargebacks. Held payments are still the default and give both sides the most protection.

Does RenovationRoute vet contractors?

No. Before a contractor account can be used, our team reviews the application to check the business does construction work and looks at its public reviews where we can. That is an application review, not vetting or an endorsement. We do not check licenses, insurance, backgrounds, or qualifications, and we do not supervise contractors. You are responsible for checking licenses, insurance, references, and qualifications before hiring anyone.

Quick Pay requires

3 completed projects
$5,000 in approved payments
90% or higher approval rating
Account open at least 60 days
No open payment disputes or chargebacks

Homeowners agree to

Be clear, responsive, and respectful during bids
Fund milestones before work begins
Approve payments promptly once the work is verified

Contractors agree to

Give accurate estimates and realistic timelines
Upload progress photos for each milestone
Stay professional on every job site and message

Report a problem

If something does not feel right, tell us

We take fraud, safety problems, and unethical behavior seriously. Send us a message and we will get back to you within one business day.