FAQ

Does CARES work like Service Titan or other all-in-one software solutions for trades and contracting businesses?

No. Or at least, not yet. CARES is focused on the simple, open interactions between service providers and property owners or managers and the organization of information about properties to make it a more streamlined process to fix, maintain or upgrade them. If you still like doing hand-written receipts, no problem. If you don’t want to spend thousands on an all-in-one solution and don’t want the complexity, we’ve got you! Over time, it is likely that CARES will evolve to offer more complex services, but we want to keep our focus on the primary customer and service provider interactions and property data organization.

Does CARES integrate with Quickbooks or other POS or accounting software?

Not at this time.

I’m a contractor or Service Provider and want to use CARES, but why do I have to pay a set up fee?

CARES empowers its users through having good information about customer properties at their fingertips. When talking about databases, they say, “Garbage in equals garbage out.” Therefore, in order to help all of us in the network succeed, we need as many users inputting clean data as possible. To support us in this goal, we offer upfront training and tech support so that every new contractor or service provider who signs up gets direct, one-on-one education about how to use the CARE System in a way that will result in good outcomes for them, their customer, and the larger CARE System community.

Do I have to be a contractor to use CARES?

Yes and no. As a Service Provider, you must be fully licensed, bonded and insured for the type of service you provide. This will vary from industry to industry. As a property owner, you can use CARES without being a contractor or in a specific industry. For all users, it is expected and recommended that you will be following local codes and best practices for any repair, maintenance or changes performed on a property.

Why would I use CARES?

As a Service Provider, it can save you tons of time and effort. If you take the time you need to learn the app and input customer property data every time you visit a customer site, you will eventually have access to a treasure trove of information which will save you trips to the store. You will also have access to an increasingly-rich resource of best practices, maintenance plans, products and like-minded parties with whom you can collaborate. Most of all, perhaps, is that you will have access to a growing number of customers who will be broadcasting jobs - asking for services that perhaps you could provide, on their properties.

As a Property owner or Manager, you will have access to a growing network of Service Providers who see value in transparent interactions and organized data about properties that can help them streamline work. You will be part of a network of like-minded property owners and businesses all incrementally moving towards a more sustainable and resilient end-state for their properties. You will also have access to DIY information about maintaining your property, doing repairs and even managing your own projects as a project manager.

The only property I have is a home. Can I use CARES?

Yes. CARES works from the micro level, such as a tiny home, through mid-size or even large and complex properties, such as a mall or campus. If you manage or own a portfolio of businesses, you can use CARES, as well.

What if I don’t care about all this green/sustainable crap?

We don’t judge. CARES is a practical tool for getting what you need done, whether that is getting new customers as a service provider, or finding a qualified electrician to fix your sparks problem in a building. The people who designed CARES made it specifically to meet you where you’re at to get what you need now, and present alternatives and best practices at a whole-network level and let you use them in an opt-in basis. It turns out that many things, like energy or water efficiency in a building, can achieve financial and comfort goals while also reducing the burden on the environment. We hope you will use CARES to meet your long term goals and if along the way things get better for the climate and community, that is fantastic.