Workflows & approvals
How a project flows
Every renovation moves through the same clear phases — and every decision has one clear owner. Who accepts an offer, approves a budget change, or reviews an invoice depends entirely on how the property is set up. Here is the full flow.
The lifecycle
Five phases from the first photo to completion — each with a clear owner.
- 1 Phase 1
Capture
Resident
The resident captures the problem with photos, a voice note, or a chat with Hopper. The AI analyzes the condition and solution options. Nothing is visible to contractors yet.
- 2 Phase 2
Review & publish
Resident · Manager
The analysis becomes a finished listing. The resident reviews it and sends it to the marketplace. If the property has a Hausverwaltung, the request goes to them for approval first.
- 3 Phase 3
Offers & selection
Contractor · Resident
Matched pros see the project and submit offers. The client compares them on the leaderboard, shortlists favorites, and chats — from the very first offer. Exactly one offer is accepted; all others are auto-rejected.
- 4 Phase 4
Execution
Contractor · Client
Acceptance opens the construction workspace: the logbook and work clock, milestones with photo evidence, the execution budget plan, and invoices. The client follows along in real time — amounts stay redacted for them.
- 5 Phase 5
Completion
Everyone
When the work is done, the contractor completes the project (once no invoice is still a draft). The client pays, books the costs to the budget, and reviews the pro.
Who approves what?
The same decisions, three configurations. How a property is set up determines who accepts, approves, and reviews.
Owner, no property manager
Decides: The owner decides everything directly.
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Publish the request
The owner sends the project straight to the marketplace — no intermediate approval.
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Accept an offer
The owner accepts the winning offer themselves — the project moves to execution at once.
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Approve a budget change
Every change order from the contractor is a request the owner approves or declines.
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Review an invoice
The owner accepts or disputes each invoice — a disputed one is blocked until resolved.
Property with a Hausverwaltung
Decides: The Hausverwaltung decides on the owners’ behalf — including one-click from email.
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Publish the request
The resident’s request lands in the manager’s approvals inbox before it enters matching.
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Accept an offer
Acceptance parks in “awaiting approval” until the manager confirms — in the dashboard or via a one-click link in the email.
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Approve a budget change
The manager approves budget changes on behalf; the owner is relieved of the task but keeps full visibility.
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Review an invoice
The manager accepts or disputes invoices on the owner’s behalf from the property’s transactions.
Contractor self-managed project
Decides: The contractor runs the project; the client confirms via a magic link — even with no app at all.
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Open the project
The contractor starts the project directly in execution — no marketplace, no offers.
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Bring in the client
Site-visit reports and status reach the client by magic link; no account required.
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Approve a budget change
The lead proposes change orders, the client confirms. When the contractor is also the client, the change applies at once.
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Sign off milestones
Both sides sign off milestones — a two-party confirmation of progress.
Four rules that always hold
Whatever the configuration, these principles protect every side.
Exactly one winner
Once an offer is accepted, every competing offer is automatically rejected — a project always has exactly one awarded contractor.
Identity only on acceptance
Chat opens from the very first offer — but the contractor sees the client’s name and contact only once their offer is accepted.
Prices stay protected
Clients and managers read the logbook and budget but never see the crew’s rates and amounts — they are redacted server-side.
Nothing happens silently
Every budget change is a traceable request with history, every invoice can be accepted or disputed — and every event arrives as a notification.