BuildMate LLC ("BuildMate," "we," "us," or "our") operates the BuildMate Hub platform, including our website (buildmateco.com) and mobile applications (collectively, the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.
By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy.
1. Who This Policy Covers
BuildMate serves two types of users:
- Contractors — licensed or independent construction professionals who use BuildMate to manage projects, tasks, estimates, invoices, and client communication.
- Homeowners — clients invited by a contractor to view project status, communicate, and review estimates/invoices through a homeowner portal.
This policy applies to both user types, with differences noted where relevant.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
- Account information: name, email address, phone number, password (encrypted), business name and license information (contractors)
- Profile information: service areas, company details, profile photos
- Project data: project names, addresses, descriptions, timelines, task lists, photos or files you upload
- Estimates and invoices: line items, pricing, project scope details
- Messages: content of messages sent through in-app messaging between contractors and homeowners
- Payment information: when you make or receive a payment through the Service, payment card or bank details are collected and processed directly by our payment processor, Stripe. BuildMate does not store your full card or bank account numbers on our own servers.
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Usage data: pages viewed, features used, timestamps, general interaction patterns within the Service
- Device information: device type, operating system, browser type, unique device identifiers (for mobile app installs)
- Log data: IP address, access times, crash reports
- Push notification tokens: if you enable push notifications on the mobile app, we store a device notification token (provided by Firebase Cloud Messaging, a Google service) so we can deliver alerts to your device. Alert content (such as "new message" or "invoice paid") is sent through Firebase to reach your device.
- Precise location (only when you ask): the "Use my location" button on the New Project form uses your device's precise location once, solely to look up the corresponding street address via Google's geocoding service. The location itself is not stored by BuildMate — only the address you choose to save on the project is kept.
2.3 Information From Third Parties
- If a contractor invites a homeowner (or vice versa) to a project, we collect the contact information provided to send that invitation.
- Sign in with Google: if you choose to sign in with your Google account, Google shares basic profile information with us (such as your name and email address) to create or access your account, subject to your settings with Google.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information to:
- Create and maintain your account
- Provide core Service functionality: project management, task tracking, estimates/invoices, and messaging between contractors and homeowners
- Process payments through Stripe and facilitate contractor payouts
- Send transactional notifications (e.g., new message alerts, invoice status, project updates), including push notifications to your device if you enable them
- Look up and display project addresses using Google Maps and geocoding services (for example, the projects map and address autocomplete)
- Verify that sign-in attempts come from a human, using hCaptcha. hCaptcha processes basic device and browser details (such as IP address and browser characteristics) for this security check.
- Power the in-app AI help assistant: questions you type into the help assistant are sent to Lovable's AI service to generate an answer. Please avoid including sensitive personal information in those questions.
- Maintain the security and integrity of the Service, including fraud prevention
- Respond to support requests
- Improve and develop new features
- Comply with legal obligations
We do not sell your personal information to third parties, and we do not use your information for advertising or cross-app tracking. The Service contains no advertising networks or third-party advertising/analytics SDKs.
4. How We Share Your Information
We share information only in the following circumstances:
- Between connected users: Information you enter into a shared project (messages, estimates, project updates, photos) is visible to the contractor and homeowner(s) connected to that specific project — not to other users of the Service.
- Service providers: We share information with vendors who help us operate the Service, each processing data only as needed to provide their service to BuildMate: Supabase (database and authentication infrastructure), Stripe (payment processing), Lovable (application hosting, infrastructure, and the AI help assistant), Google (Sign in with Google, Maps/geocoding, and Firebase Cloud Messaging for push notifications), and hCaptcha (human verification). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only to provide services to BuildMate — none of this is "sharing" for marketing purposes.
- Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of BuildMate, our users, or the public.
- Business transfers: If BuildMate is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify users of any such change.
5. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable period, except where retention is required for legal, accounting, or dispute-resolution purposes.
6. Your Choices and Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict, or export your personal information. You can delete your account at any time from Settings within the app. To exercise these rights, contact us at support@buildmateco.com. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe consistent with applicable law.
Push notifications: you can turn push notifications off at any time in the app's Settings or in your device settings.
California residents: You may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information is collected and to opt out of its sale (note: BuildMate does not sell personal information).
7. Data Security
We implement industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encrypted data transmission, access controls, and row-level security policies on our database restricting who can view messages, invoices, and estimates to only the parties involved in a given project. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.
8. Children's Privacy
The Service is not directed to individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
9. International Users
BuildMate is based in the United States, and information is processed and stored in the United States.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, posting the updated policy with a new "Last Updated" date.
11. Contact Us
BuildMate LLC
support@buildmateco.com