This framework explains who is responsible for what when you use Jack's Level. It applies alongside our Terms of Service. You confirm the parts that apply to you at sign-up, when you create a project, when a Foreman joins a project, and when guidance is logged in the journal.
Purpose
Jack's Level connects DIY homeowners ("DIYers") with experienced advisors ("Foremen") who provide guidance, coaching, project-planning assistance, and general construction knowledge.
The Platform does not provide licensed contracting, engineering, or architectural services, legal advice, code-compliance verification, permit services, inspections, or project supervision.
Core principle
The DIYer builds the project. The Foreman provides guidance. The Platform provides the tools. Responsibility for the project always remains with the DIYer.
DIYer responsibility
The DIYer is solely responsible for:
- All work performed
- Job-site safety, and the personal safety of themselves, their family, guests, neighbors, and any workers
- Compliance with all federal, state, county, and city laws and regulations
- Compliance with all building codes, zoning regulations, and permit requirements
- Compliance with all HOA requirements
- Obtaining all required inspections and approvals
- Material selection, tool usage, and construction methods
- Maintaining appropriate insurance coverage
- The outcome of the project
The DIYer accepts all risks associated with performing their project.
Foreman responsibility
The Foreman is responsible for:
- Providing honest information
- Accurately representing their skills and experience
- Providing guidance in good faith
- Logging time accurately
- Maintaining professional conduct
The Foreman is not responsible for:
- Construction outcomes or project failures
- Property damage, injuries, or death
- Permit, code, or regulatory compliance
- Structural adequacy or engineering validation
- Inspection results or HOA approval
Foremen act only as advisors.
Platform responsibility
The Platform:
- Facilitates communication
- Provides project-management and documentation tools
- Stores project records and guidance history
- Helps the parties agree on a payment amount and facilitates payment through a third-party processor (Stripe)
The Platform does not:
- Verify construction quality, safety, or contractor qualifications
- Verify permit or code compliance
- Supervise projects or guarantee outcomes
- Assume liability for project results
- Process payments itself, hold or control funds, or store your card or bank details
- Withhold or remit any taxes
DIY homeowner acknowledgement
When you create an account as a DIYer — and again when you create a project — you confirm that you understand:
- The Platform provides guidance and tools only.
- I am solely responsible for my project.
- I must obtain all required permits.
- I must comply with all applicable federal, state, county, and city laws, building codes, and zoning regulations.
- I must comply with all HOA requirements.
- I must ensure all work is performed safely.
- Guidance provided by Foremen is advisory only.
- Neither the Platform nor any Foreman guarantees any outcome.
- I assume all risk associated with my project.
Foreman acknowledgement
When you create an account as a Foreman — and again when you join a project — you confirm that you understand:
- I provide advisory services only.
- I am not acting as a contractor, engineer, or architect.
- I am not supervising construction.
- I am not guaranteeing project outcomes.
- I am not responsible for project safety.
- I am not responsible for permit or code compliance.
- I will accurately represent my experience.
- I will accurately report the time I spend on projects.
- I am an independent professional, responsible for my own income and self-employment taxes on amounts I earn — the Platform and Stripe don't withhold taxes.
When creating your profile you also certify that your profile information, work history, certifications, listed licenses, and experience descriptions are accurate, and that you will not knowingly misrepresent your qualifications.
The journal and logged time
Each journal entry is advisory and provided in good faith. The Foreman certifies that the information and the time recorded are accurate; the DIYer acknowledges that the guidance is advisory, that they remain responsible for all decisions, safety, and compliance, and that the hours shown are accurate to the best of their knowledge.
The journal — including time logged — is a shared, mutually-approved record. A journal entry is not a permit, an inspection, or a certification of work.
Payments
A project has a pre-agreed payment amountset before work begins. Time is tracked in the shared journal and confirmed through both parties' approvals, so the agreed amount is grounded in a mutually-approved record. When the work is mutually marked complete, payment is processed by our third-party processor, Stripe.
Jack's Level facilitates the agreement and the request to release payment, but does not process the payment, hold or control funds, set prices, or store your card or bank details — Stripe collects and stores those directly. We are not a party to the payment and do not resolve payment disputes between the homeowner and the Foreman.
Foremen are independent professionals. Amounts paid are gross; neither Jack's Level nor Stripe withholds taxes. Reporting and paying any income or self-employment taxes on amounts earned is solely the Foreman's responsibility.
Insurance
DIYers are solely responsible for maintaining any insurance they deem necessary — including homeowners, builder's-risk, umbrella, or liability coverage. Foremen are responsible for maintaining any insurance they deem necessary. The Platform does not provide insurance coverage.
Final summary
DIYer — responsible for safety, permits, codes, laws, HOA requirements, insurance, construction, and outcomes.
Foreman — responsible for honest advice, accurate experience representation, and accurate time tracking; not responsible for outcomes, safety, compliance, or construction quality.
Platform — responsible for the communication, documentation, and record-keeping tools; not responsible for construction, safety, compliance, outcomes, damages, injuries, or disputes.