Terms & Conditions

Welcome to BarnesNest LLC (“BarnesNest”, “we”, “our”, or “us”). These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of our web-based and mobile service platform (“Platform”), which connects homeowners, tenants, and property managers (“Users”) with independent handymen and contractors (“Service Providers”) for the improvement of residential and commercial property. Users and Service Providers are referred to as “You.”

Consent to Use the Platform

By accessing or using our Platform, you consent and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our Platform.

Independent Relationship and No Employment

BarnesNest is a marketplace platform that connects homeowners and property managers with local handymen and contractors for the improvement or repair of defective/malfunctioning material of residential and commercial property. We are not an employment agency, labour broker, or service provider, and do not employ or engage any Users. Users acknowledge and agree that:

• We do not (i) perform any services offered through the Platform, nor employ individuals to do so; (ii) supervise, direct, monitor, control, or determine the manner or means of work performed by Service Providers, including work location, hours, tools or supplies used, pricing (except as permitted on the Platform), or work terms; or (iii) assume any responsibility for the quality, timing, legality, failure to perform, or any other aspect of the services provided by Users, including the conduct, integrity, reliability, skills, qualifications, communications, ratings, or reviews associated with Users; and
• The creation of a service between Users does not create any employment, agency, partnership, joint venture, franchise, or other relationship between BarnesNest and any User or Service Provider. No User or Service Provider has authority to bind, speak on behalf of, or act as an agent for BarnesNest.

Each Service Provider is solely responsible for all tax filings and obligations, including income tax, self-employment tax, social contributions, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, sales tax, VAT, GST/HST, or any other tax or income-related liability arising in connection with the services performed through our Platform. BarnesNest shall not be held liable or responsible for any such obligations.

Limited License and Acceptable Use

Subject to your full compliance with this Agreement (including these Terms and the BarnesNest Acceptable Use Policy), we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, and revocable license to:

• access and use the BarnesNest Platform and associated services in jurisdictions where we operate;
• access and use our Platform on your personal device solely for the purpose of using the services offered via the Platform; and
• access and view content, data, and materials made available to you through the Platform, strictly for your personal use and consistent with the intended purpose of the Platform.

All Users and Service Providers agree to comply with our Terms and Conditions, which govern proper conduct and permitted activities on the Platform. Users may not reproduce, copy, modify, distribute, sell, lease, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, republish, transmit, or create derivative works from the Platform or any of its contents without our prior written authorization. All rights not expressly granted are reserved by BarnesNest. Any unauthorized use may result in suspension or termination of access and may constitute a violation of applicable laws.

Representations and Warranties

In accessing and using the Platform, Users and Service Providers represent, warrant, and agree that you:

• will comply fully with this Agreement, including these Terms and any supplemental policies or guidelines we issue;
• are at least the minimum legal age required in your jurisdiction to form a binding contract and have the legal capacity to be bound by this Agreement;
• have the right, authority, and capacity to enter into this Agreement, including authority to bind any company or entity you represent;
• will request or perform services only within jurisdictions where we offer the Platform;
• will respect the privacy, property, and data-protection rights of other Users and Service Providers;
• will act professionally, responsibly, and with integrity in all interactions — responding promptly, adhering to agreed schedules, and fulfilling all obligations;
• will only use the approved third-party payment service provider (“PSP”) integrated with the Platform to make or receive payments;
• will use your legal name or registered business name, with an accurate, up-to-date profile photo;
• will comply with all applicable local, state, national, and international laws in connection with your use of the Platform;
• will not use the Platform for any illegal, fraudulent, or prohibited purpose, including controlled substances or unlawful materials or services; and
• will conduct all service-related communication (scoping, scheduling, payments) through the Platform and refrain from circumventing it before, during, or after any service.

You acknowledge that BarnesNest is a neutral venue and does not supervise, direct, control, or endorse any specific Service Providers or the services they offer.

Eligibility

• Minimum age: You must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into a binding agreement.
• Geographical availability: Our services are currently available only in specific U.S. states and cities where BarnesNest operates.
• Legal compliance: You must use the Platform in compliance with all applicable laws. Service Providers are solely responsible for holding any required licenses, permits, or qualifications.

We reserve the right to refuse, suspend, or terminate access for any user who does not meet these requirements or violates these Terms, even after successful registration.

Account Registration

All Users and Service Providers must create an account to access the Platform. Required information includes:

• Homeowners / Tenants: name, email, phone, service location.
• Service Providers: name / business name, email, phone, trade details, portfolio, and all applicable license documents for the services offered.

You agree and are responsible to provide accurate, complete, and required information.

Account Security and Responsibility

You are solely and fully responsible for:

• maintaining the confidentiality and security of your login credentials; and
• all activity conducted through your account, whether or not authorized by you.

We do not manage individual user accounts and disclaim liability for unauthorized access, misuse, or alteration of your account. Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access or any breach of security. Failure to do so may result in suspension, termination, or loss of account privileges, and you may be liable for losses we incur due to unauthorized use of your account.

Identity Verification

Before a Service Provider can receive payments, they must complete identity verification (“KYC”) through our third-party payments partner (Stripe), which confirms their identity and banking details. Barnes Nest does not currently conduct criminal background checks, and a Service Provider’s presence on the platform is not a representation that any such check has been performed. We may introduce additional screening in the future. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any verification and disclaim liability for any errors, omissions, or false information provided by Users or third-party services. Homeowners and property managers are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence when selecting a Service Provider.

Professional Assumption

BarnesNest does not independently verify whether Service Providers possess the necessary expertise, skills, licenses, permits, certifications, or registrations required by law. Certain services are regulated, and performing them without proper licensure may result in legal penalties. Service Providers are solely responsible for ensuring they are qualified, properly licensed, and compliant before offering or performing any services. Users are solely responsible for determining whether a Service Provider has the appropriate qualifications and credentials for a particular project. BarnesNest disclaims any liability for a user’s failure to comply with applicable licensing or regulatory requirements.

Service Engagement & Agreement Between Users and Service Providers

The Platform enables Users to offer, discover, and book repair, maintenance, and improvement services. Once a User selects a Service Provider, both parties may communicate through the Platform’s integrated messaging system (the “Chat Thread”) to clarify the scope, timing, cost, and other details, including any known or potential hazards or conditions that may affect the work. Upon confirmation and scheduling, a legally binding Agreement (“Service Agreement”) is formed directly between the User and the Service Provider, which includes:

• the terms and scope discussed and accepted via the Chat Thread,
• the scheduled time and location of the service, and
• any other mutually agreed-upon terms specific to that service.

Service Providers operate independently and assume the risk of profit or loss. BarnesNest is not a party to any Service Agreement and does not supervise or control the performance of services; the formation of a Service Agreement creates no legal obligation or liability for BarnesNest.

Sub-Assignment by the Service Provider

Service Providers are expected to personally perform the services they agree to, unless expressly permitted by the User in writing via the Platform. Sub-assignment or delegation, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the User’s prior written consent through the Chat Thread. Where permitted, the Service Provider remains fully responsible for the performance, quality, completion, and legal compliance of the services and any subcontractor. Unauthorized sub-assignment may result in immediate suspension or termination and/or other legal consequences.

Platform Use and Conduct

All Users agree to maintain respectful and lawful conduct. Prohibited behaviors include:

• Harassment, discrimination, or offensive/abusive/inappropriate language;
• Circumvention of our payment system or arranging off-platform payments;
• Misrepresentation of qualifications or services;
• Uploading illegal, defamatory, explicit, or unauthorized content or materials.

Violations may result in suspension or termination at our discretion.

Nature of Service and Hiring Model

BarnesNest is solely a facilitator connecting homeowners and property managers to repair their malfunctioning/damaged/broken/defective material. We do not directly hire or employ Service Providers. All contractors on our Platform are independent professionals responsible for their own bids, schedules, and service delivery.

Typical Services Offered

Services offered through the Platform typically include (but are not limited to):

• Minor electrical, plumbing, and carpentry work;
• Painting, cleaning, and maintenance;
• Appliance installation and general repairs.

BarnesNest does not independently verify licensing credentials; Users are solely responsible for confirming whether a contractor holds the necessary licenses for any regulated services and are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.

Booking and Scheduling

• Users initiate the process by posting detailed service requests on the Platform.
• Contractors respond by submitting bids, which may include proposed milestone plans and pricing.
• Upon reviewing bids, Users select a preferred contractor and coordinate the schedule through the in-app messaging system.

Please note: the Platform does not support instant or automatic booking. All scheduling must be manually coordinated between Users and Contractors through mutual communication.

Payments and Platform Fee

All payments are securely processed through Stripe. Users fund the project upfront; funds are held by the payment processor and released to the contractor only upon the User’s approval of each completed milestone. BarnesNest charges an 8% platform fee to the contractor, deducted from the amount released for each completed milestone, and a 5% Trust & Support fee paid by the User, added to the milestone amount at funding and shown as a separate line item at checkout. The Trust & Support fee funds secure milestone payment processing, contractor identity verification, and customer support. It is not an insurance product, warranty, or guarantee of the quality or outcome of any work.

Cancellations and Refund Policy

• Before hiring: Users may cancel their service request without penalty.
• After hiring but before work begins: Partial refunds may apply if the contractor has already incurred costs in preparation.
• After milestone approval: Payments are considered final unless exceptional circumstances arise, in which case a review may be conducted.
• Disputes: Any disputes are managed through BarnesNest’s in-app resolution process.

See our Cancellation & Refund Policy for full details.

Subcontracting

Subcontracting is permitted only with disclosure, full accountability by the Service Provider, and the User’s approval. Service Providers are prohibited from accepting direct jobs or payments from Users introduced through BarnesNest outside of the Platform. Violations may result in immediate termination of access and potential legal action.

Ratings, Reviews, and Content

Users and Service Providers may rate and review each other upon completion of a project. Reviews cannot be edited once submitted but may be disputed if inaccurate or unfair. All content must be accurate, respectful, and owned by the user submitting it. Users grant BarnesNest a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use uploaded content for platform operations.

Objectionable Content and Abusive Behavior

BarnesNest has a zero-tolerance policy for objectionable, abusive, harassing, hateful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, fraudulent, or otherwise unlawful content and conduct. You agree not to post such content or engage in such behavior anywhere on the Platform, including in messages, reviews, profiles, and job posts.

Every user may report content they believe violates this policy and may block any other user to stop further contact. Reports can be filed directly from the content in question (messages and reviews) or by emailing support@barnesnest.com. BarnesNest reviews all reports and will remove violating content and eject repeat or egregious offenders, typically within 24 hours of a report. By using the Platform you agree to this Acceptable Use commitment as a condition of access.

Dispute Resolution

Users can initiate disputes through the Platform, and funded amounts may be held pending investigation. BarnesNest will review all relevant communications, milestones, and evidence to reach a fair resolution. Our decision is final unless legal recourse is pursued by either party.

Platform Access and Availability

The Platform may be temporarily unavailable due to scheduled maintenance or technical issues, and data upload size limits may apply. While we strive to give advance notice of scheduled maintenance, unplanned downtime may occur due to system issues, third-party disruptions (e.g., Stripe), or internet infrastructure failures. The service is currently available in select U.S. regions and may not be accessible in unsupported areas. Some advanced features may be rolled out gradually or limited to specific roles during early development.

Intellectual Property

The Platform, including all features, functionalities, and content (text, graphics, designs, interfaces, images, photos, videos, typefaces, artwork, audio, software, data, formatting, layout, selection, and arrangement) and associated intellectual property rights (“Proprietary Material”), is the sole and exclusive property of BarnesNest, except where otherwise indicated (such as User-Generated Content or third-party content). The Proprietary Material is protected by copyright, trademark, trade dress, patent, and other laws. Users may not copy, reproduce, modify, create derivative works from, distribute, display, transmit, publish, or exploit any portion without our prior written consent. All trademarks, logos, and service marks (the “Marks”) are owned exclusively by us and may not be used without our express prior written consent. Unauthorized use may result in account termination and legal liability.

Third-Party Tools and Licensing

We use third-party technologies, including Stripe for payments and Next.js under the MIT License. You agree to their respective terms and conditions.

Modifications to These Terms

We may modify these Terms from time to time. Users will be notified via email or platform alert. Continued use constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of Texas, United States. Any disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Dallas County, Texas.

California Privacy Rights (CCPA & CPRA)

If you live in California, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). BarnesNest collects personal information such as your name, email, phone number, service address, and job-related content, along with usage and transaction data, to run and improve our services. We use this information to provide our services, process payments, manage your account, prevent fraud, and communicate with you — we do not sell your personal information. As a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information we collect and how we use it, request deletion or correction of your data, opt out of the sale of personal data (if applicable), and limit the use of sensitive information if we ever collect it. To make a privacy request, email privacy@barnesnest.com. We may ask you to verify your identity, and we will follow all applicable California laws. We will never treat you unfairly or deny you services for exercising your privacy rights.

Contact Information

• Support: support@barnesnest.com
• Disputes: disputes@barnesnest.com
• Privacy: privacy@barnesnest.com

Acknowledgment and Consent

By using the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and Conditions and any other content referenced herein. You acknowledge that your continued use of the Platform constitutes your acceptance of these Terms and that your conduct abides by all conditions and obligations set forth herein.