Questions, answered honestly

Completely. Posting a project and receiving up to 3 quotes costs you nothing, ever. BuildCape earns from contractor memberships and business tools — never from charging homeowners.

Before a badge appears we confirm the business's CIPC company registration and, where applicable, NHBRC and CIDB details. It's an honest documents check — proof you're dealing with a registered business — not a guarantee of workmanship. Still get a written quote, check references for big jobs, and use a proper contract (our free forms help).

Matching contractors are notified as soon as your project is reviewed — usually the same day. Most homeowners hear from the first contractor within a day or two; complex or unusual projects can take a little longer to match well.

Never. Compare the quotes, ask questions, or accept none of them — no strings. Our cost guides help you judge whether a quote is fair before you decide.

Your contract is with the contractor, but tell us — we take reports seriously, follow up, and remove members who breach trust. Protect yourself upfront: written scope, staged payments tied to progress, and never a large deposit before work starts.

A basic listing is free. The ladder from there: Enhanced R55 once-off (verified badge + PDF profile), Showcase R350 once-off (logo + direct contact + WhatsApp button on your card), Featured R450/month (top of search, first in line for leads), Premium R950/month (every matching lead, guaranteed). Full details on the pricing page.

When a homeowner posts a project, it's matched to contractors in that trade. Premium members receive every matching lead — never capped, never missed. Featured members are first in line for the available slots. Everyone else receives leads when slots remain. Lead emails include the client's details so you can quote directly.

Every paying tier includes it: after payment we confirm your CIPC registration (and NHBRC/CIDB where applicable) and the badge goes live on your card. Keep your details current — badges can be withdrawn if checks stop passing.

Yes — monthly tiers are pay-as-you-go with no lock-in. You'll get a friendly reminder before each renewal with a one-click payment link; simply don't renew and your listing drops back to free at the end of the paid period.

Listings (Enhanced to Premium) are about being found and receiving leads. The Platform (Pro R299/mo, Business R699/mo) is your back office: claims, payroll, compliance registers, saved records, and your company letterhead on all 303 forms. Many members run both.

Yes — every form in the library can be filled in your browser, printed or saved as PDF, free, with no signup wall. That's a promise, not a trial.

For contractors who live in Excel: 8 downloadable auto-calculating spreadsheets (quote, invoice, BOQ, progress claim with retention maths, cash flow, wage sheet with UIF, markup calculator, cost tracker). Once-off R55, yours forever, re-downloadable anytime. See the pack.

They're professional templates aligned with South African practice (BCEA, OHS Act, COIDA, SARS requirements where relevant) — the same paperwork established firms use. For high-stakes contracts, have your attorney review the final document; the templates give them a solid starting point instead of billable hours from scratch.

Yes — Platform subscribers get their business name as the letterhead on all 303 forms automatically, so every printed document carries your brand.

Securely by card through Yoco — your card details never touch our servers. Activation is automatic the moment payment succeeds: badge, placement, downloads, all of it. EFT is available too; WhatsApp us and we'll assist.

You'll receive a reminder before your renewal date with a one-click card payment link. Pay it and your cycle restarts automatically — nothing lapses. Miss it and we'll nudge you a couple of times before the listing drops back to free.

Prices are as listed on the pricing page. You'll receive proof of payment for every transaction; if you need specific invoicing details for your books, WhatsApp us and we'll sort it out.

Workers register free with their trade, area and experience. Employers post vacancies. The moment a candidate matches an open vacancy, the employer gets their details by email and they talk directly — no agency, no placement fee. See Workforce.

No — we're a matching platform. Employers and workers deal with each other directly, and employers remain responsible for their own hiring checks and employment compliance (contracts, UIF, COIDA — our forms library covers exactly that paperwork).

Only employers with a matching vacancy in your trade and area. By registering you consent to that sharing — it's the whole point of the service — and you can ask us to remove your details anytime on WhatsApp.