Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the HearthLocal website, phone services, scheduling tools, and related communications (collectively, the "Services") operated by JWC Holdings LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company doing business as HearthLocal ("HearthLocal," "we," "us," or "our").

By accessing our website, calling our phone number, submitting a form, or booking an appointment, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use our Services.

2. Description of Services

HearthLocal is a contractor matching and appointment scheduling service. We connect homeowners in Lincoln, Nebraska with pre-vetted local contractors for home improvement and home service projects including, but not limited to, kitchen and bathroom remodeling and HVAC repair and replacement.

HearthLocal does not perform any home services. We are not a contractor, construction company, or home service provider. All work is performed by independent contractor partners who are separate legal entities from JWC Holdings LLC.

Our Services include:

• Inbound call handling via an AI-powered virtual assistant (Hearth)
• Online appointment scheduling through third-party scheduling tools
• Contractor matching based on project type, zip code, and availability
• Appointment confirmation, reminders, and follow-up via SMS and email

3. Matching Process & No Guarantee of Outcome

HearthLocal makes reasonable efforts to match homeowners with qualified, vetted contractor partners. However, we do not guarantee any specific outcome, including but not limited to:

• The quality, timeliness, or cost of any work performed by a contractor
• That a contractor will be available for your specific project or timeline
• That a contractor will accept or complete a particular job
• Any result from a consult, estimate, or completed project

All agreements regarding scope of work, pricing, and project terms are made directly between you and the contractor. HearthLocal is not a party to any contract between a homeowner and a contractor.

We vet our contractor partners prior to inclusion in our network, but we are not responsible for the independent actions, omissions, or negligence of any contractor. If you experience an issue with a contractor introduced through HearthLocal, contact us and we will work to address it — but final responsibility for the contractor's work rests with the contractor.

4. Calls, AI Assistant & Call Recording

When you call HearthLocal, your call may be answered by Hearth, an AI-powered virtual assistant. We disclose the AI nature of Hearth at the beginning of every call.

Call recordings may be retained for up to 24 months and may be used to verify billable appointment events, resolve disputes, or improve our Services. If you do not consent to being recorded, please do not call our number and instead use our online scheduling system.

HearthLocal uses third-party voice AI and telephony infrastructure. Your call data — including caller ID, duration, and recording — is processed through these third-party systems subject to their own terms and privacy policies.

5. Appointments & Cancellation

When an appointment is booked through HearthLocal, you will receive a confirmation via SMS and/or email. This confirmation constitutes a scheduled appointment with our contractor partner.

• Appointments are free and commitment-free for homeowners at the consult stage
• To cancel or reschedule, contact us as early as possible at [email protected] or via the number in your confirmation SMS
• Repeated no-shows or cancellations without notice may result in reduced service priority
• HearthLocal reserves the right to cancel or reschedule appointments at our discretion with reasonable notice

6. Cost to Homeowners

HearthLocal's matching and scheduling service is free to homeowners. We do not charge homeowners any fees for using our Services, receiving a contractor match, or booking an appointment.

HearthLocal earns revenue from contractor partners, who pay a fee for qualified appointments delivered through our platform. This commercial arrangement does not affect the quality or independence of our matching process.

Any fees for actual home services performed by a contractor are negotiated and agreed to directly between you and the contractor. HearthLocal has no involvement in contractor pricing or payment.

7. Acceptable Use

By using our Services, you agree not to:

• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information when requesting a match or booking an appointment
• Use our Services for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable law or regulation
• Attempt to circumvent, disrupt, or interfere with our AI assistant, scheduling system, or website
• Harass, threaten, or abuse HearthLocal staff, contractors, or other users
• Use our Services to solicit contractor partners for purposes outside of legitimate home service projects
• Reproduce, distribute, or commercially exploit any content or materials from our website without written permission

We reserve the right to refuse service to any individual who violates these Terms or who we reasonably believe is acting in bad faith.

8. Intellectual Property

All content on the HearthLocal website — including text, design, graphics, logos, and the HearthLocal and Hearth brand names — is the property of JWC Holdings LLC and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, modify, distribute, or commercially exploit any of this content without our prior written consent.

9. Disclaimers

Our Services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by law, HearthLocal disclaims all warranties including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

We do not warrant that our Services will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components. We do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information provided through our Services.

HearthLocal is not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, or any other aspect of the services provided by contractor partners introduced through our platform.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, JWC Holdings LLC and its officers, members, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages — including but not limited to loss of profits, data, goodwill, or property damage — arising out of or related to your use of our Services or any contractor work facilitated through our platform.

Our total liability to you for any claim arising from or related to these Terms or our Services shall not exceed $100 USD, regardless of the form of the claim.

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on liability, so the above may not apply to you in full.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless JWC Holdings LLC and its officers, members, employees, agents, and contractor partners from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your use of our Services, your violation of these Terms, or your interaction with any contractor introduced through HearthLocal.

12. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Nebraska, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of our Services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Lancaster County, Nebraska.

Before initiating any legal proceeding, you agree to contact us at [email protected] to attempt good-faith resolution of any dispute.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Your continued use of our Services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

14. Contact Us