Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Home Guild LLC ("we," "us," or "our") operates the Home Guild platform, which connects field service professionals with clients seeking home services. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website, mobile application, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, business name, address, and payment information
• Professional Profile Information: Services offered, service areas, photos, business descriptions, licenses, certifications, and experience details
• Project Information: Project descriptions, photos, estimates, change orders, invoices, and related documentation
• Communication Data: Messages, reviews, and other communications through our platform
• Payment Information: Credit card details, bank account information, and transaction history (processed through secure third-party processors)

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Device type, operating system, browser type, IP address, and device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on the platform, and interaction patterns
• Location Data: GPS coordinates and general location information (with your permission) for job site navigation and service area matching
• Cookies and Tracking: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• Background check information (for professional verification)
• Payment processing information from our payment partners
• Public business information from directories and databases

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Core Service Operations

• Create and manage your account and professional profile
• Match professionals with relevant client projects
• Facilitate direct communication between professionals and clients
• Process estimates, change orders, and invoices
• Handle payments and financial transactions
• Provide job site navigation and time tracking features

3.2 Communication and Notifications

• Send project notifications and lead alerts
• Facilitate messaging between users
• Provide customer support
• Send administrative updates and service announcements

3.3 Quality and Safety

• Verify professional credentials and qualifications
• Moderate reviews and manage reputation systems
• Detect and prevent fraud or inappropriate behavior
• Enforce our Terms of Service

3.4 Business Operations

• Improve and personalize our services
• Analyze usage patterns and platform performance
• Develop new features and services
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 With Other Users

• Professional Profiles: Your business information, services, photos, and reviews are publicly visible
• Direct Communication: Contact information you choose to share is visible to clients who view your profile
• Project Information: Relevant project details are shared between matched professionals and clients
• Pro-to-Pro Reviews: Client reviews written by professionals are visible only to other verified professionals

4.2 With Service Providers

• Payment processors for transaction handling
• Background check companies for professional verification
• Cloud hosting and data storage providers
• Customer support and communication tools
• Analytics and performance monitoring services

4.3 Legal and Safety Requirements

• To comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Home Guild, our users, or others
• To investigate and prevent fraud, security breaches, or other harmful activities
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with notice to users)

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest
• Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant processors
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Access controls and authentication systems
• Employee training on data protection practices

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Account Management

• Access and update your profile information
• Control your communication preferences
• Manage visibility settings for your profile
• Delete your account (subject to legal retention requirements)

6.2 Location Data

• Choose whether to share precise location information
• Disable location services in your device settings
• Control location-based features like job site navigation

6.3 Marketing Communications

• Opt out of promotional emails and notifications
• Adjust frequency of lead notifications
• Customize communication preferences

6.4 Data Rights (Where Applicable)

Depending on your location, you may have additional rights including:

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to correct inaccurate information
• Right to delete your data
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. Specific retention periods include:

• Account Information: Until account deletion plus legal retention requirements
• Transaction Records: 7 years for tax and accounting purposes
• Communication Records: 3 years for quality assurance and dispute resolution
• Usage Data: 2 years for analytics and service improvement

8. International Data Transfers

Home Guild operates in the United States. If you access our services from outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. We implement appropriate safeguards for international data transfers in compliance with applicable laws.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will delete that information promptly.

10. California Privacy Rights

California residents have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). For detailed information about these rights and how to exercise them, please contact us using the information below.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will:

• Post the updated policy on our website
• Update the "Last Updated" date
• Notify you of material changes via email or platform notification
• Obtain your consent for changes that materially expand our use of your information

13. Effective Date

This Privacy Policy is effective as of the date listed at the top of this document and applies to all information collected by Home Guild from that date forward.