Vetted ContractorsScreened before work begins
HOMEOWNER PROTECTION, BUILT IN
Your home project should never feel like a gamble.
Protect Home Own LLC safeguards your contractor, your project, and the money behind it. All project funds are placed in escrow under attorney and homeowner control before payments are released under the written agreement.
VettedContractor network
DocumentedProject progress
EscrowedProject funds
Escrow ProtectionAll project funds held in escrow
Shared ControlAttorneys and homeowner
24/7 SupportA real point of contact
YOUR MONEY, SAFEGUARDED
Project funds stay protected—not in a contractor's pocket.
Every dollar designated for the home project is placed into an escrow account. Control remains with the homeowner and participating attorneys, and the contractor does not receive unrestricted access to the money upfront.
Ask Frank about escrow protection →100%of project funds placed in escrow
Specific release conditions and responsibilities are established in the written agreement.
ANNUAL HOMEOWNER MEMBERSHIP
$380/ YEAR
A simple annual plan with useful home services already included.Ask About MembershipMORE VALUE, ALL YEAR
Two essential home services included with membership.
The Protect Home Own annual membership gives homeowners a practical reason to protect and maintain their property before a major project—or an unexpected problem—begins.
INCLUDED ONCE PER MEMBERSHIP YEAR
Free Power Washing
One power-washing service is included with the active annual membership at no additional service charge.
INCLUDED ONCE PER MEMBERSHIP YEAR
Free Home Inspection
One home inspection is included with the active annual membership at no additional service charge.
Benefit eligibility, scheduling, service area, scope, and inspection terms are governed by the applicable membership agreement.
THE REALITY CHECK
A contract is important. A protection process goes further.
Home improvement can involve a large financial commitment, unfamiliar contractors, and weeks of work around your home. Protect Home Own LLC is designed to put a clear process between the homeowner and unnecessary risk.
Explore the protection process →Contractor disappears
Money has changed hands, but the contractor stops responding or never begins the work.
Project is unfinished
The job stalls, the work is incomplete, and the homeowner is left trying to manage the situation alone.
Funds lack structure
Large payments are made before there is clear, documented progress tied to the agreement.
No one owns the process
The homeowner becomes the contractor chaser, document keeper, negotiator, and project manager.
THE COST OF GOING IT ALONE
Trust the protection process—not just a promise.
Most contractors are not scammers. The risk is structural: when a homeowner hires and pays a contractor directly, there may be no independent fund control, milestone documentation, or third party protecting the homeowner's side of the agreement.
These South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs figures cover all reported scam categories—not contractor fraud alone. Richland County accounted for 12.95% of reports; the report does not publish a contractor-only Richland County loss total.
HIRING DIRECT
The homeowner carries the process.
- ×Payment may go directly to the contractor before work is verified.
- ×You independently check licensing, insurance, complaints, and qualifications.
- ×You track the scope, progress, change orders, and payment milestones.
- ×If work stops, recovering money and resolving the dispute may be difficult.
WITH PROTECT HOME OWN
The homeowner has a protection structure.
- ✓Participating contractors are reviewed against program requirements.
- ✓Project scope, documentation, and payment conditions are put in writing.
- ✓Project funds are placed in escrow under attorney and homeowner control.
- ✓Progress is documented before payments follow the approved terms.
IMPORTANT
If you hire or pay a contractor directly outside Protect Home Own, the escrow, documentation, oversight, and response protections described on this site do not apply to that separate agreement.
HOW IT WORKS
One clear process. More control at every step.
We work with the homeowner before trouble begins—so expectations, documentation, and the path forward are clearer from day one.
START HERE
Tell us about your project
Share what you are planning, where you are in the hiring process, and what concerns you want addressed.
VERIFY
Contractor review
Participating contractors are reviewed against program requirements before the protected work begins.
SAFEGUARD
Secure the funds
All project funds are placed in escrow under attorney and homeowner control, with release conditions established in writing.
OVERSEE
Verify, then pay
Progress is documented and funds are released only according to the approved project terms.
DOCUMENTED PROGRESS
You deserve to know what is happening at your home.
Regular progress documentation helps replace uncertainty with a record of what has been completed, what is currently underway, and what remains.
- ✓Clear updatesUnderstand the current state of the work.
- ✓Project accountabilityKeep the agreement and the work connected.
- ✓Less chasingKnow who to contact when questions come up.
THE PROTECTION PROGRAM
Built around the risks homeowners worry about most.
Each layer supports a more organized, transparent home-improvement experience.
Contractor Standards
Participating contractors must meet program requirements for licensing, insurance, bonding where applicable, and professional qualifications.
Escrowed Project Funds
All project funds are placed into an escrow account rather than being handed directly to the contractor upfront.
Shared Fund Control
Participating attorneys and the homeowner retain control according to the written agreement and its approved release terms.
Progress Records
Work is documented throughout the project so homeowners have better visibility into what is done and what remains.
Performance Response
If a participating contractor does not meet program requirements, the company can take action under the written agreement.
Real Support
A designated point of contact helps the homeowner navigate questions instead of being left to manage the contractor alone.
A VETTED NETWORK
We do not just send a contractor to your house.
The goal is not to create another directory. It is to build a network of contractors willing to work within a homeowner-first process.
01Credentials reviewedLicensing, insurance, bonding where applicable, and professional qualifications.
02Process commitmentWillingness to work within the documentation and payment structure.
03Accountability expectedClear communication and adherence to the agreed scope of work.
HOMEOWNER
PROTECTION
PROTECTION
MEET YOUR HOMEOWNER PROTECTION SPECIALIST
Frank Schwarz
Frank helps homeowners approach improvement projects with stronger safeguards, clearer expectations, and a process built around their interests—not just the contractor’s.
“We protect your home. We protect your money. We protect your future.”
COMMON QUESTIONS
Know the process before the project starts.
Every project is different. The written agreement controls the specific protections, requirements, and responsibilities for your project.
What is included in the $380 annual membership?+
Each active membership year includes one power-washing service and one home inspection at no additional service charge. Eligibility, scheduling, service area, scope, and inspection terms are governed by the membership agreement.
When should I contact Protect Home Own LLC?+
Ideally, contact us before you hire a contractor or pay a deposit. That gives the protection process the best opportunity to begin before work and payments are underway.
Can I bring my own contractor?+
Start by discussing the contractor and your project with us. Participation depends on the contractor meeting the applicable program requirements and agreeing to the process.
Where is my project money held?+
All funds designated for the project are placed into an escrow account controlled by participating attorneys and the homeowner, subject to the specific terms of the written agreement.
Does the contractor receive all of my money upfront?+
No. The contractor does not receive unrestricted access to project funds upfront. Payments are released from escrow according to the approved terms established in the written agreement.
What if I hire or pay a contractor directly?+
A separate direct agreement is outside the Protect Home Own program. The program's escrow, documentation, oversight, and response protections do not apply unless the contractor and project participate under the applicable written agreement.
What happens if a contractor does not perform?+
The available response depends on the written agreement and circumstances. Under the program, action may be taken when a participating contractor does not meet the company’s requirements.
Is the program a guarantee or insurance policy?+
No. The program is a structured homeowner-protection process. It is not a guarantee of contractor performance, an insurance policy, or a substitute for independent legal advice.
START BEFORE THERE IS A PROBLEM
Protect your home project from day one.
Ask about the $380 annual membership or tell Frank what you are planning. Your information will be prepared as a text message for you to review and send.
CALL ANYTIME803-931-2945