Houmse, Inc. and its affiliated entities (collectively referred to as "Houmse," "we," "our," or "us") highly value your privacy. Within this Privacy Policy ("Policy"), we outline the collection, utilization, and disclosure practices regarding your information. This Policy is applicable to all of our online services, including websites, mobile applications, and other online services (collectively referred to as the "Platform") accessible via or through Houmse, and where this Policy is published, such as our website www.houmse.com. Additionally, it encompasses information gathered offline or through alternative methods. Your access to or use of the Platform constitutes your acceptance of this Policy. If you disagree with any aspect of this Policy, we kindly ask that you refrain from accessing or using the Platform.

 

Collected Information

The methods through which we gather and store information vary depending on your interactions with the Platform. Our information collection practices encompass various approaches, including direct provision of information by you, information obtained from affiliated and non-affiliated sources, and passive collection of information, such as data gathered from your browser or device.

 

Information Submitted Directly to Us

When interacting with or accessing the Platform, you have the option to provide us with personal information. This may occur when you register for an account, subscribe to electronic newsletters, request quotes or additional information, participate in contests or sweepstakes, make purchases, complete forms, download or utilize our mobile applications, or engage in communication with us or other users via the Platform. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and this Policy encompasses all interactions you have with the Platform.

The personal details you directly provide to us may encompass but are not confined to, the following: name and last name; postal code; email address; phone number; residential, business, or mailing address; demographic particulars (such as gender, age, and other data pertinent to user surveys and/or offers); photographs and/or video or audio files, details regarding your project, residence or requirement; under specific circumstances, payment details; if you are a Service Provider(Home Inspector), under certain situations, identity verification data; and/or (m) any additional information included in communications with other users via the Platform or in correspondence with us. Additionally, it may encompass information specific to the services you are soliciting or providing through the Platform, such as business titles, service descriptions, qualifications, and credentials. While you are not obligated to furnish such information, certain functionalities of the Platform may be inaccessible or unavailable without providing the requested details.

For processing payment information (such as credit card details or bank account information), we engage a third-party payment provider.

We may also preserve any correspondence you send to us or other users, encompassing email communications, forum contributions, reviews, responses we dispatch to you, and messaging through the platform.

 

Information from Partners, Social Networking Platforms, and Other External Sources

We may gather data about you from Houmse partners or from sources not directly affiliated with us, which may include publicly available sources. For instance:

If you use your Gmail account to access the Platform, you may grant us access to specific details within your Gmail profile. 

Subject to legal provisions, we reserve the right, at our discretion, to request and gather additional information about you from external sources not affiliated with us. This may include information to verify your identity or trustworthiness, credit-related information from credit bureaus to authenticate your credibility, or for other purposes related to fraud prevention or safety.

 

Passive or Automatic Data Collection

We and selected third-party vendors, including ad networks and analytics providers, may utilize cookies and similar tracking technologies to gather information about the devices, including mobile devices, you use to access the Platform. This information may include, but is not limited to browser type; operating system; domain name; access time; IP address; unique device identifiers, and device type. Additionally, we may monitor and log your usage frequency and patterns on the Platform. It's important to note that we do not collect keystroke information. We utilize this data, along with information collected by third-party vendors, for Platform analytics, advertising relevance determination, assessing advertising campaign effectiveness, and other purposes outlined in this Policy.

When using the Platform, we may collect your general location from your IP address. If you install our mobile app and grant permissions, we may also gather precise geolocation data to enhance the Platform, including offering location-based features. We may share this information with agents, vendors, or advertisers for personalized advertising. If you prefer not to share your location, you can disable location-tracking functions on your mobile device, though this may limit access to some Platform features.

We and our third-party partners employ cookies and similar tools to gain insights into user behavior, customize preferences, and enhance the Platform. A cookie is a small text file that a website can save on your web browser and access later. Some cookies are temporary, while others may remain on your computer or mobile device for weeks or months, even after you close your browser. You can adjust your browser settings to accept or reject cookies, though declining them may impact Platform functionality. As we adopt new technologies, we may gather additional information through alternative methods.

Messaging, we may also retain any communications you send us, including e-mail messages, forum posts, reviews, and responses we send you. We may, either directly or through third-party providers we engage to provide services to us, review, scan, or analyze your communications with other Users exchanged via the Platform or as otherwise described in this Policy for fraud prevention, risk assessment, regulatory compliance, investigation, product development, research, and User support purposes.


Use of Information

We may utilize your information to operate the Houmse platform and its services. Specifically:

  • To register you for services and verify your identity and authority to use our services;
  • For customer support and to respond to your inquiries;
  • To improve and maintain the Platform and for product development;
  • For internal record-keeping purposes;
  • To administer surveys, sweepstakes, promotions, or contests;
  • For Houmse's market research purposes, including, but not limited to, the customization of the Platform according to your interests;
  • To market and advertise our services and the Platform, including sending promotional emails regarding new products, features, services from Houmse, or other information that may interest you;
  • To track fees and process billing and payment including sharing with third-party payment gateways and payment vendors in connection with the Platform;
  • For other research and analytical purposes; and to resolve disputes, to protect ourselves and other Users of the Platform, or third parties;
  • As permitted under applicable law, to contact you by telephone or text message regarding Platform features, or other products and services that may interest you Or to contact you by text message regarding certain services or information you have requested;
  • To address fraud or safety concerns, or to investigate complaints or suspected fraud or wrongdoing.
  • For Service Providers, we may publicly display business-related information, including your name or your business's name, on your profile, unless we inform you otherwise. If the information provided during account setup differs from the verification data we collect, we reserve the right to determine which information will be publicly displayed on your profile.

 

Minors

Our services are intended for individuals aged 18 years and older; Children and minors are not permitted to use the platform without supervision. Accordingly, we request that children refrain from submitting any personal information to us. If you are under the age of 18, you may only utilize this platform under the guidance and supervision of your parents or legal guardians.

 

Disclosure of Your Information

We may disclose the information that we collect as outlined below:

  • We may disclose personal information to authorized third-party providers engaged to assist us in delivering our services via the Site. These providers may include those involved in software and website development, data processing, and office administration. They are bound by strict privacy guidelines and may only use your information to support our services.
  • We reserve the right to disclose personal information to third parties if legally required by law, regulation, or court order.
  • In the event of a proposed or actual purchase of all or part of Houmse, personal information may be disclosed or transferred to a third party to ensure continued service provision.
  • We collect aggregate information, which may be shared with third parties like advertisers for statistical analysis to understand user interests.
  • The Site enables connection and posting to social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. We use Site information to facilitate sharing public content with your friends and followers if you opt-in.
  • If required by law, we will disclose personal information to communicate with next of kin or authorized representatives of injured, ill, or deceased individuals.
  • We may release collected information to defend against legal claims, respond to legal processes, protect the rights of Houmse or third parties, and prevent illegal or unethical activity.

You can share Content on our Platform, such as comments, pictures, and Service Professional profiles. Be cautious online as some of your information may be publicly accessible. For example, registering requires your name, which may be visible to others. Your name could be linked to your Content, reviews, messages, or profile details, allowing others to identify you. Additionally, certain information we collect, like your last Platform access time, may be shared with others you interact with or made public.

We may use your personal information to market goods, services, and offers from us, our affiliates, and sponsors. Aggregated statistics and anonymized data may be shared, but personally identifiable information will not be disclosed to advertisers. Occasionally, we'll seek your express permission to receive Commercial Electronic Messages (CEMs) sent to or from Canadian computers to our users. Express consent for CEMs aligns with the Canada Anti-Spam Law (CASL) and requires a clear description of the purpose and types of CEMs you may receive from us. However, express consent is not required for certain types of CEMs, such as those related to security, refunds, account notifications, or transactions outside of Canada.

 

Knowledge and Consent

Using the Houmse website is voluntary. We'll ask for your express consent before using or disclosing your personal information, either at collection or to communicate with you. In rare cases, we may seek consent after collecting information but before use. You can withdraw consent at any time, but this may affect our ability to provide certain services or valuable information. We won't require consent beyond what's necessary to fulfill specified and legitimate purposes for providing products or services.

 

Security

We safeguard your personal information using industry-standard security measures. Your Houmse account is password-protected, and we advise logging off shared computers to prevent unauthorized access. Access to personal information is limited to authorized employees or representatives, who receive privacy education and access only as necessary for their roles. While we strive for security, absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. In the event of a breach, we maintain records and notify affected individuals and regulatory authorities as required by law. Our breach response framework complies with PIPEDA and related regulations.

 

External Links Disclaimer

The Platform may feature links to third-party websites or resources beyond our control. Please review the privacy policies of these sites for their handling of personal information. Such links do not imply our endorsement of these third-party websites. You understand that we provide these links solely for convenience and accept that we are not liable for these third-party websites, including their content or treatment of your information.

 

Control of Your Information

At Houmse, we empower you to maintain control over how your personal information is used. We strive to enhance your user experience by offering options for providing, editing, removing, or instructing us not to use certain personally identifiable information collected from you.

 

Correction of Your Information:

Upon your request, we will correct errors or omissions in your Personal Information within our custody or control. We may require sufficient information to verify your identity and locate the information. Corrections will be made or a record of the request will be retained. You may also edit your personal information in your account settings on the Site or Application.

 

Removal of Your Information:

Upon your request, we may edit, deactivate, or delete your personal data from our active databases after proper review. You have the right to deletion of your account and personal data. To initiate account deletion, you can:

In-App Account Deletion: You can delete your account directly within the app by navigating to the account settings and selecting the "Delete Account" option. This will delete your account and all associated personal data from our active databases.

Request Deletion: If you prefer, you may also request account deletion by contacting our support team at  [email protected]. Upon receiving your request, we will review and process it promptly. You will receive a confirmation once your account has been deleted.

Please note that while we will delete your data from our active databases, some information may remain in secure backups or logs for legal and administrative purposes, which are not accessible to third parties.

 

Changes to Our Policy

Houmse reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time without notice, at our sole discretion. The Policy posted on this Site at any time shall be deemed effective, so we recommend reviewing it frequently for updates. Your continued use of our Services after any changes signifies your acknowledgment and acceptance of the new policy.

 

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]

 

Houmse Inc.