The rule
This covers non-mowing required-service quotes — Cleanup and Leaf Removal: what photos you need, and the rule that decides whether the job even gets scheduled and paid. Long-grass quotes need a before photo too, and long-grass quotes over 15" also require waiting for approval — so nothing here is an exception to how those work; this article just covers the non-mowing types. Do not begin work until the customer has approved your submitted quote in the app.
Why it matters
You find a property condition that blocks the primary service → you submit a required-service quote of the correct type (Cleanup or Leaf Removal) with the required before photo → the quote goes to the customer → the customer approves or rejects in-app → only after approval does the job appear on your schedule, and only a completed, scheduled job is eligible for payout. Your customer has until the day before the date you picked for the work, and the quote shows its "Expires" date. If they don't approve it by then, it expires, and the service it was blocking is cancelled, the same as a decline.
What counts as a violation
Starting or completing non-mowing work before the customer approves the quote in-app. Only approved quotes are eligible for payout. If the customer hasn't approved the quote, the app won't generate a scheduled job — so you can't mark the service complete, and since payout only processes after a job is marked complete, you won't be paid for work done before approval, even with a verbal yes.
Consequences
Starting or completing non-mowing work before the customer approves the quote in-app means no payout — a verbal agreement doesn't substitute for in-app approval, and the app won't let you mark the job complete without an approved, scheduled job in the first place.
What to do instead
- Identify the property condition and select the correct required-service type: Cleanup or Leaf Removal.
- If submitting as a required service, take the required before photo and submit the quote. You set the price under "Your Price," and your customer approves or declines it. The form shows what accepted quotes for that work typically run in your area, which is a good place to start.
- Wait for the customer to review and approve the quote in-app — do not begin work yet, even if the customer verbally agrees. Until your customer approves it, the quote shows "Pending Customer Approval," then "Approved," "Turned Down," or "Expired." Once they approve it, we email you (you won't get an app notification), and the work goes on your schedule as its own job on the date you picked. To check a quote, open the menu, tap "Customer Search," find your customer, and look under the property for the quote starting with "Required."
- Once approved, the job appears on your schedule. Complete the work, taking before and after photos — the app asks for both on any job that isn't a mow and won't complete the job without them. Take them from the same spots, so they show the change, before you complete the job.
- Mark the job complete — this is what triggers payout eligibility.
While the quote is still pending, you can change it: open the menu, tap "Customer Search," find your customer, tap the quote starting with "Required," then "Update Required Service." Change "Your Price" or anything else, then tap "Submit." Your customer isn't told about the change, so message them: on their job, tap "View Job Details," then the message icon at the top right. The type can't be changed this way.
Something not going right?
- "I started the work before the customer approved and now I'm not getting paid." This is expected — payout requires a completed job on an approved, scheduled quote. A verbal agreement doesn't unlock payout; only in-app approval does.
- "The app won't let me complete the job without a photo." On any job that isn't a mow, the app asks for before and after photos and won't let you complete the job without them. Add the photos, take them from the same spots, then tap "Continue."
- "I need to change a quote that's still pending." While the quote is pending, open the menu, tap "Customer Search," find your customer, tap the quote starting with "Required," then "Update Required Service." Change "Your Price" or anything else, then tap "Submit." Your customer isn't told about the change, so message them from their job ("View Job Details," then the message icon at the top right). The type can't be changed this way, and a new quote never replaces a pending one.
- "I'm not sure if a photo is required for my quote." If you're submitting as a required service, a before photo is required. If it's a regular recommended or manual quote, it isn't required, but taking one is still a good practice.
Following the approval-before-starting rule and providing the right photos means your job completes cleanly and your payout processes without delay or dispute.
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