Introducing Boots on the Ground (BOTG) Service Requests on Deal Connect Marketplace
Real estate transactions often require a range of services to get a property market-ready. Whether you need a professional photographer, someone to paint your property, or help with a variety of other tasks, Deal Connect’s Boots on the Ground (BOTG) service requests make it easy to find service providers and get the job done efficiently. Here’s how this feature works:
What is Boots on the Ground (BOTG)?
Boots on the Ground (BOTG) is a feature designed for sellers to quickly request various services required for a property. These services are performed by trusted service providers on the Deal Connect marketplace. Sellers can post specific job requests, such as taking property photos, performing a paint job, or other property-related tasks, and service providers can accept the offer based on their availability.
How It Works
- Requesting a Service
- As a seller, you can initiate a BOTG service request by clicking the + sign in the BOTG story section at the top of your screen.
- You will choose a category from a dropdown, such as:
- Take Photos
- Take Photos and Videos
- Verify Address (upload a picture as proof)
- Paint Job
- Check All Locks
- Other (create your own milestones and details)
- Service Details
- When you select a category, you can add specific details such as instructions for the service provider. For instance, if you need a paint job, you might specify the type of paint (e.g., oil-based) and colors.
- Each job comes with predefined milestones, and you can modify or add additional ones based on your needs. These milestones include site arrival, verifying the address, completing photos/videos, and securing the property.
- Service Offer Acceptance and Escrow
- Once a service provider accepts your offer, the agreed payment amount is held in Escrow.
- You will have 5 minutes to reject an offer after it’s accepted. If you do not take action, the job will be automatically assigned to the first service provider who accepts it.
- Service Provider’s Role
- Service providers also have 5 minutes to cancel the job offer after accepting it. After this window, they are locked into the job and will need to complete it according to the agreed-upon milestones.
- All work milestones must be uploaded via the Deal Connect app. Service providers need to submit photos and videos for each completed milestone, which are timestamped to ensure transparency.
- Escrow & Payment Release
- Once a service provider completes a milestone, the seller receives notifications to review the work. Sellers have 2 hours to approve or dispute the payment. If no action is taken within 2 hours, the payment is automatically released to the service provider.
- If a seller rejects an offer, the job will be reposted and available for other service providers to accept.
Setting Milestones and Customizing Jobs
Each job can be customized to fit the specific needs of the seller. For example, a paint job might include the following milestones:
- Milestone 1: Scrubbing and stain removal (amount set by the seller)
- Milestone 2: Exterior painting completed
- Milestone 3: Interior painting completed
- Milestone 4: Second coat applied
For each milestone, the service provider must upload proof (photos/videos) and mark the milestone as completed in the app. Notifications will alert the seller to review the work.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
The cancellation policies are in place to ensure fairness to both sellers and service providers:
- Seller Cancels: If you cancel the job offer within 5 minutes, the service provider receives no compensation. If the cancellation happens after the first milestone duration has passed, the service provider gets paid for the completed milestone.
- Service Provider Cancels: If a service provider cancels, no payment is made for any incomplete milestones.
Refunds & Disputes: If the quality of the work doesn’t meet expectations, sellers can request a refund for any milestone. However, the refund must be requested within 2 hours of payment. If rejected, the service provider’s profile may be flagged for further review.
Ratings, Reviews, and Communication
Once a job is complete, sellers can rate and review the service provider based on their experience. Sellers will be notified when someone accepts their offer and when a milestone is marked complete.
To enhance communication, service providers and sellers can chat asynchronously in a thread under each BOTG job once the job is accepted. This ensures both parties are aligned and any necessary adjustments can be made on the fly.
Why Use Boots on the Ground?
- Efficiency: Quickly hire the right people to get things done on your property with predefined milestones and transparent payment structures.
- Flexibility: Customize each job with your specific needs and conditions. Whether it’s a simple paint job or complex photography, you have control over the details.
- Security: The escrow system ensures that payments are only made when work is completed and verified, creating trust between sellers and service providers.
- Quality Assurance: With the ability to rate service providers, sellers can choose the best talent based on their reviews and past work.
Get Started Today!
To initiate your first BOTG service request, simply click the + sign at the top of your screen in the BOTG section. Choose your category, set your milestones, and let Deal Connect do the rest. Whether you’re taking photos, verifying addresses, or completing maintenance work, the BOTG service feature is your go-to solution for property management tasks.
By streamlining property-related services and creating an easy-to-use platform for sellers and service providers, Deal Connect continues to innovate and empower both sides of the real estate transaction.