Terms of Service

1.1 Non-Exclusive Lead Intermediary

OpenHouzz operates a technology platform providing spatial planning tools (including 2D/3D floor plan visualizers) and an automated project lead dispatch engine connecting homeowners ("Homeowners") with accredited interior designers. OpenHouzz acts purely as an independent lead intermediary and software provider.

1.2 No Guaranteed Project Award

The Merchant acknowledges that claiming a lead dispatch grants access to the Homeowner’s verified contact details, property parameters, and 3D floor plan file. OpenHouzz does not guarantee that claiming a lead will result in an executed renovation contract, site measurement meeting, or financial transaction.

As a condition of onboarding and maintaining an active Merchant Account, you warrant and represent that:

1. Corporate Registration: You are a legally registered business entity in good standing with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) of Singapore.
2. Statutory Compliance: You hold all necessary statutory approvals, including (where applicable) registration under the HDB Registered Renovation Contractor Scheme (RRCS), Building and Construction Authority (BCA) licenses, and CaseTrust accreditation.
3. Public Liability Insurance: You maintain active Commercial General Liability / All-Risks Insurance covering worker injury and third-party property damage.
4. Immediate Notification: You shall notify OpenHouzz in writing within forty-eight (48) hours if your ACRA status is struck off, your HDB/CaseTrust accreditation is suspended or revoked, or your firm enters insolvency proceedings.

3.1 Pay-Per-Claim Architecture (No Subscription Fees)

OpenHouzz operates on a pay-as-you-go micro-wallet model. Merchants do not pay fixed annual membership or directory listing subscription fees. Access to lead dispatches is funded strictly via prepaid wallet top-ups ("Wallet Balance").

3.2 Wallet Top-Ups & Payment Processing

• Wallet top-ups are processed in Singapore Dollars (SGD) via HitPay or approved gateway channels (including PayNow QR, GIRO, and credit card).
• Top-up amounts are credited as digital lead tokens to your Merchant Account.
• Pre-Launch / Founding Bonus Tokens: Any promotional bonus credits awarded during pre-launch cohorts (e.g., +15%, +20%, or +30% bonus tokens) are non-transferable and can only be used for lead claims on the Platform.

3.3 365-Day Validity Policy

Wallet Credits remain valid and active for three hundred and sixty-five (365) days from the exact date of payment confirmation. If a Merchant Account remains inactive or holds unused Wallet Credits beyond 365 days, those unused credits shall expire automatically without right of cash refund or rollover, unless a new top-up is executed prior to the expiry timestamp.

4.1 5-Tier Property Claim Pricing

When a verified project fires on the Platform, the required Wallet Credit deduction per claim is calculated dynamically based on the property scope tier:

OpenHouzz reserves the right to adjust tier pricing with fourteen (14) days’ advance written notice posted to the Merchant Dashboard.

4.2 Capped Competition & Atomic Locking

• Every lead dispatch is hard-capped at a maximum of five (5) Merchant claims.
• The Platform’s database engine executes atomic transaction locking. The exact millisecond the fifth (5th) Merchant claims a lead, the project is permanently locked and removed from the active dispatch queue.
• OpenHouzz guarantees that no individual lead will ever be sold to more than five (5) Merchants on the Platform.

5.1 Strictly Non-Refundable (Default)

All Wallet Balance top-ups and lead claim deductions are final, non-refundable, and non-exchangeable for cash, except as explicitly provided in Section 5.2.

5.2 Invalid Contact Credit Standard

OpenHouzz utilizes WhatsApp One-Time Password (OTP) verification to ensure contact integrity. However, if a claimed lead contains a disconnected line, wrong number, or invalid phone number that bypassed the verification gate:

1. The Merchant must report the lead via the Merchant Dashboard within forty-eight (48) hours of the claim timestamp.
2. OpenHouzz administrators will audit the WhatsApp dispatch logs and phone carrier connectivity.
3. Upon verification that the contact number is invalid or uncontactable, OpenHouzz will re-credit the exact claim fee back to the Merchant’s Wallet Balance within three (3) business days.

5.3 Exclusions from Refund

Re-credits will NOT be issued under any of the following conditions:

• The Homeowner subsequently decides not to renovate or delays their key collection;
• The Homeowner hires another contractor or chooses not to award the contract to the Merchant;
• The Homeowner does not answer phone calls but reads WhatsApp messages;
• The Merchant failed to file the refund report within the mandatory 48-hour window.

6.1 Do Not Call (DNC) & Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)

Merchants acknowledge that lead data transmitted by OpenHouzz contains Personal Data protected under the Singapore PDPA:

• Merchants are granted a limited, non-transferable license to use the Homeowner’s contact details strictly for the purpose of providing interior design quotations and consultations for the specific property submitted.
• Merchants shall NOT sell, trade, broadcast, share, or transfer Homeowner data to third-party sub-contractors, material suppliers, financial advisors, or external marketing agencies.
• Merchants shall comply with all Do Not Call (DNC) Registry guidelines and immediately cease contact if a Homeowner explicitly requests to opt out of further communications.

6.2 Professional Conduct & Bidding Integrity

Merchants agree to maintain professional business ethics. OpenHouzz reserves the right to immediately suspend or terminate a Merchant Account without credit refund if the Merchant:

• Engages in bait-and-switch pricing, deceptive quotes, or aggressive sales harassment;
• Demands unrecorded cash deposits without issuing proper corporate invoices;
• Receives persistent, verified Homeowner complaints regarding abandonment of works, severe structural damage, or unethical business practices.

7.1 Platform Ownership

All software, database logic, atomic claim algorithms, API integrations, and branding assets associated with OpenHouzz remain the exclusive intellectual property of OpenHouzz Pte. Ltd.

7.2 Merchant Profile & Portfolio License

The Merchant grants OpenHouzz a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display the Merchant’s corporate logo, ACRA business name, completed portfolio photographs, CaseTrust badges, and public customer reviews on the Platform, social media channels, and digital marketing campaigns for promotional purposes.

8.1 Non-Party to Renovation Contracts

OpenHouzz is not a party to any contract negotiated or signed between a Homeowner and a Merchant. OpenHouzz assumes zero liability for any financial loss, structural defect, project delay, property damage, dispute, or legal proceeding arising from a Merchant’s engagement with a Homeowner.

8.2 Cap on Monetary Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Singapore law:

• OpenHouzz shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages (including loss of business profits or operational downtime).
• OpenHouzz’s total aggregate liability to any Merchant for all claims arising under or relating to this Agreement shall be strictly capped at the total amount of Wallet Top-Up fees paid by that Merchant to OpenHouzz in the three (3) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to liability, or S$500.00, whichever is lower.

9.1 Voluntary Termination

A Merchant may terminate their account at any time by issuing thirty (30) days’ written notice to merchants@openhouzz.com. Any unexpired, paid Wallet Credits remaining at the end of the notice period shall expire in accordance with Section 3.3.

9.2 Immediate Termination for Cause

OpenHouzz reserves the right to immediately suspend or terminate a Merchant Account, freeze remaining Wallet Balances, and revoke Platform access without prior notice if the Merchant:

• Breaches any material term of this Agreement or the PDPA;
• Loses their ACRA registration, HDB RRCS scheme listing, or CaseTrust accreditation;
• Becomes subject to insolvency, liquidation, or judicial management proceedings;
• Engages in fraudulent credit card top-ups or system manipulation.

10.1 Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced exclusively in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Singapore.

10.2 Dispute Resolution Framework

Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including its formation or breach, shall first be referred to executive negotiation between authorized representatives of both parties. If unresolved within thirty (30) days, the dispute shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of the Republic of Singapore.

By clicking "I Agree", completing a Merchant Account registration, or executing a HitPay Wallet Top-Up on OpenHouzz.com, the Merchant confirms that it has read, understood, and agreed to be legally bound by all terms of this Agreement.

For Inquiries & Merchant Support

• Company: OpenHouzz Pte. Ltd.
• Email: support@openhouzz.com
• Merchant Portal: https://www.openhouzz.com