Help Topic: My UnderTool

Help Topic: Placing a Bid

Help Topic – Posting an Estimate Request

Help Topic – Submitting an Estimate

Help Topic: Creating a Work Order

Help Topic: My UnderTool

“My UnderTool” is the area of our site in which members can access and edit their personal information, review current contracts and auctions, as well as award contracts and give feedback.
Each user must be logged in to access this area. Only you have access to your “My UnderTool” page.

Overview: On the main page of "My Undertool” you see a short summary of the “My UnderTool” features. You can always return to this starting point.

Orders I Have Bid On: Displays a list of all contracts for which I have placed a bid or for which I have submitted an estimate. You can also navigate to each individual contract from here.

Watch List: Auctions you are following are listed here. You can add to this list by clicking on the “Add to Watch List” link at the top of each auction.

Auctions/Contracts Awarded: Here a list of all work orders you have been awarded is shown. Here you can also contact clients via a contact form.

Auctions/Contracts Not Awarded: Contracts you bid on, but were not the lowest bidder or contracts which the client awarded to other bidders within a 3 day period are shown here. Expired contracts are removed from this list.

My Current Work Orders: Work orders and auctions which you have initiated are listed here. You can view, edit or delete them.

Expired Auctions: Auctions or Estimates for which the bidding period is over can be seen here. A list of all bidders is shown and you can now award the contract.

Re-list an Auction: If you choose not to award a contract, you can select this option to start the auction again and if necessary, make changes. This is only possible if you have not already awarded a bidder the contract.

My test reports: You can write a report

My Feedback: Here you can review feedback given to you by other members.

A general overview shows the average score in percent. You can also see the individual feedback given for each order.

Give Feedback: Here you can leave feedback for any of your contract partners. Please remember that feedback cannot be deleted or changed and that leaving negative feedback can be extremely detrimental to other users. Please be professional and always try to resolve any differences before leaving negative feedback!
You can leave feedback on a scale similar to school grades, i.e. 1 (excellent, A) to 6 (unsatisfactory, F) for different categories such as payment morale, friendliness, quality of completed work, overall level of satisfaction, etc. These categories are available from the drop-down menu.

Resolve Disputes: Here you can resolve disputes you may have through Undertool.com regarding billing issues, specific problems with other members, etc.

My Account Balance: Here you can view all of your account invoices as well as download them. You will always be informed by e-mail when you receive of a new invoice. You can also download a program to verify the signature of the invoices. This download is completely secure and has been scanned for viruses by Undertool.com.

My Personal Information: The information you entered in upon registration will appear here.
Here you can change your address information, your company name, and your e-mail address and password. Should you forget your password, click on "Forgotten Password" and we will immediately send you a link via e-mail which you can click on to create a new password.
My Settings: On this page, you can register for the newsletter or you can cancel your newsletter subscription.
In addition, you can setup your “Order Radar” which informs you via email if a new work order matching your pre-determined filters is posted. You can use up to 3 categories and / or a local area search.

About Me: Here you can provide a description of you and/or your company as well as upload pictures.

Blacklist> block bidders: If you have had bad experiences with a bidder in the past you can exclude him from being able to bid on your order. That member is then prevented from placing bids or posting any comments on your auctions. This does not apply to any bids or comments already posted.
Contact Customer Service: Do you have any questions, suggestions or criticism? Then do not hesitate to inform us. Here you will find a form you can fill out that will be sent to our customer service.

Help: Do you need help or are you looking for a specific topic? You will find it here.

Logout: Use this to end your session and automatically logout of the UnderTool.com system.

 

Help Topic: Placing a Bid

As a registered and logged-in user you have the ability to bid on any order corresponding to your current status (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum).

Under the description of the work order you will find a field in which you can enter the smallest dollar amount for which you are willing to complete this order. In case of equal bid amounts, the bid received first will be accepted.

Please note:
By placing a bid you are making a binding offer. If you are not seriously interested in the job, please do not bid! Also, please read the work order through very carefully and ensure you can carry out the work order before placing your bid.
In order to change your bid, just place a new one. Your previous bid will be automatically updated.

Special Option: Buyout

All clients posting work orders can set a fixed price for which the order can be immediately bought out by a bidder.

Setting a fixed price is optional, not every client will take advantage of this option.

A work order can only be bought out if no prior bids have been made. Buying out a contract constitutes the conclusion of a contract between yourself and the client.

We always recommend first obtaining information about potential contract partners. Read the feedback from other members before posting bids or accepting contracts.

Help Topic – Requesting an Estimate

In order to use Undertool.com for bidding, posting work orders, or posting or submitting estimates, you must first log in with your user name and password.
By clicking on the tab "Post Estimate Request" you can begin and in 4 easy steps you will create your request.

Step 1

Select a title for your request. It should be as short as possible and get right to the point, so that other members can easily identify what you need completed.

Then you can choose up to two categories in which to post your request. This increases your chances of being seen by many contractors.

Step 2

In this step you describe your request in detail. It is better to be very specific and include as much information as possible. This keeps potential contractors from having to ask numerous questions before they decide whether they can complete the job in question or not.

Title: Here you can see the title you previously created. You may also change it if necessary.

Description: Here you describe your order. All pertinent details such as method of execution, pre-requisites, and any other important information should be included here.

Payment Options: Here you can choose the payment terms.

The following fields refer to the location of the job, not your own address (unless they are the same, of course.)

City: Enter the city where the job is located.

State: Please select the state where the job is located from the drop-down menu.

Zip code: Enter the city and zip code where the job is located here.

Country: Please select the country from the drop-down menu.

Time Period: Requests can be posted for up to 360 days. Using the drop-down menu, choose one of the 13 options. These numbers refer to the number of days your request will be posted. Bear in mind: Posting requests for a longer period of time usually results in more as well as lower offers. But many contractors do not know how busy they will be a year from now. That’s why it is important to find a healthy medium.

Starting Bid: Create a price which you think is realistic. Based on the offers you receive, you will soon see if it is or not, since contractors can also make offers higher than your set starting price.

Immediate Buyout: This option is only available for auctions.

Travel Costs: Here you can set whether the travel costs for the consultation or execution of the work order are to be covered by the client or the contractor.

Who Provides the Materials: Please specify who is responsible for providing the materials needed to execute the work order. Depending on the type of job, this may vary. If the contractor is responsible for the materials, these costs should be considered when setting the price. Do not forget to consider costs for delivery or shipping in addition to the actual material costs.

Execution Date (from … to): Here you can set the time period in which the job is to be carried out. Please calculate a realistic period of time.

Information regarding the consultation: Here you can choose whether you wish for a consultation with a contractor prior to the actual execution of your work order. If this is the case, here you can provide a day and time at which you are usually available.

Select a Desired Contractor: It is possible to make your work order only available to certain certified companies or users. Upon registering with UnderTool.com, contractors can send certificates and verification as to their level of expertise. UnderTool.com then categorizes members based on these qualifications (bronze, silver, gold, platinum). If you indicate "bronze," then all contractors can submit bids, without restriction. If you select Silver, Gold, or Platinum, then only members with these levels of certification can place bids on your work order. Please remember that although lower level members cannot place bids on work orders above their level, they may still be very qualified.

Highlights: For an extra fee, you can place emphasis on your work order to better get the attention of other members. You can choose from bold letters, colored highlighting, and placing your work order in “Featured Auctions” section.

Step 3

Here you can upload up to three pictures as well as write a brief description of each picture. These pictures should help contractors understand exactly what needs to be completed, for instance pictures of the present condition of a house that needs to be renovated, etc.

Step 4

In the final step, you can check over the information you previously entered. If you would like to make changes, you can do so by clicking on the appropriate step (1-3, above the estimate request information). Your information will then be officially posted by clicking on “Submit Your Estimate Request”.

Help Topic – Submitting an Estimate

Requests for estimates are marked with a green “E”. Here clients can get binding estimates from potential contractors for work orders they need completed.

To submit an estimate, simply enter the price at which you would execute the work order in the field under the work order’s description. Further details or conditions can be discussed using the” comments” function. Please remember that you are submitting a binding offer.

At the end of the pre-determined time period, the client has 30 days time to decide on one of the bids; however he is not obligated to make a choice. If a choice is made, the contract will be awarded directly to the selected bidder, thereby concluding a legally binding contract. Should this be the case, the selected contractor will be responsible for the standard UnderTool.com fees, exactly as if having won an auction.

Help Topic: Creating a Work Order

In order to use Undertool.com for bidding, posting work orders, or posting or submitting estimates, you must first log in with your user name and password.

If you have already created an auction/estimate, but are not logged in or have not yet registered, you can still go ahead and do this. The information you have already entered will not be lost.
By clicking on the field “Post a Work Order" you can begin creating your auction.

 

Step 1

Select a title for your request. It should be as short as possible and be to the point, so that other members can easily see what you need completed.

Then you can choose two different categories in which to post your request. This increases your chances of being seen by many contractors. Try to select the two categories into which your work order most closely fits.

 

Step 2

In this step you describe your request in detail. It is better to be very specific and include as much information as possible. This keeps potential contractors from having to ask numerous questions before they decide whether they can complete the job in question or not.
Title: Here you can see the title you previously created. You may also change it if necessary.

Description: Here you describe your order. All pertinent details such as method of execution, pre-requisites, and any other important information should be included here.

Payment Options: Here you can choose the payment terms.

The following fields refer to the location of the job, not your own address (unless these are the same, of course.)
Country: Please select the country from the drop-down menu to the right.

State: Please select the U.S. state where the job is located.
City / Zip code: Enter the city and zip code where the job is located here.

Time Period: Requests can be posted for up to 360 days. Using the drop-down menu, choose one of the 13 options. These numbers refer to the length of days your request will be posted. Bear in mind: Posting requests for a longer period of time usually results in more as well as lower offers. But many contractors do not know what will be happening a year from now. That’s why it is important to find a healthy medium.

Starting Bid: Create a price which you think is realistic. Based on the offers you receive, you will soon see if that is true or not, since contractors can also make offers higher than your set starting price.

Immediate Buyout: Here you have the ability to set a fixed price you are willing to pay if a contractor immediately agrees to take on your job. This field is optional. Usually this amount is lower than the starting amount. A contractor can choose this option if they are willing to execute the work order for this price, however this option is only available when no prior bids have been placed. This is equivalent to the “Buy It Now” option used by other auction platforms, in this case the contractor who chooses this option is automatically awarded the contract. Consequently, the client who posted the work order no longer has the option of choosing a different contractor.

Travel Costs: Here you can set whether the travel costs for the consultation or execution of the work order are to be covered by the client or the contractor.

Who Provides the Materials: Please specify who is responsible for providing the materials needed to execute the work order. Depending on the type of job, this may vary. If the contractor is responsible for the materials, these costs should be considered when setting the price. Do not forget to consider costs for delivery or shipping in addition to the actual material costs.

Execution Date (from … to): Here you can set the time period in which the job is to be executed. Please calculate a realistic period of time.

Consultation: Here you can choose whether you wish for a consultation with a contractor prior to the actual execution of your work order. If this is the case, here you can provide a day and time at which you are usually available.

Bidding Restriction: It is possible to make your work order only available to certain certified companies or users. Upon registering with UnderTool.com, contractors can send certificates and verification as to their level of expertise. UnderTool.com then categorizes members based on these qualifications (bronze, silver, gold, platinum). If you indicate “bronze,” then all contractors can submit bids, without restriction. If you select Silver, Gold, or Platinum, then only members with these levels of certification can place bids on your work order. Please remember that although lower level members cannot place bids on work orders above their level, they may still be very qualified.

Highlights: For an extra fee, you can place emphasis on your work order to better get the attention of other members. You can choose from bold letters, colored highlighting, and placing your work order in “Featured Auctions” section.

Step 3

Here you can upload up to three pictures as well as write a brief description of each picture. These pictures should help contractors understand exactly what needs to be completed, for instance pictures of the present condition of a house that needs to be renovated, etc.

Step 4

In the final step, you can review the information you entered. If you would like to make changes, you can do so by clicking on the appropriate step (1-3, above the work order information). Your work order will then be posted as an auction by clicking on “Submit Your Work Order”.

Help Topic - Registration

You can register as a member of UnderTool.com in 5 simple steps. Registration is necessary if you want to post a work order, submit an estimate request, or place bids on work orders and estimates.

Simply click on the "Register" tab on the start page you to begin the registration process.
The fields highlighted bold are required. Please remember to enter only complete and correct information.

Step 1

Here you can choose whether to register as an individual or as a company.


Step 2

Here you enter in your personal information.
You may make your entries as long as you wish.

Company: Please enter the full name of your company. If registering as an individual, this field should be left blank.

Registered Activity: Here you may enter your licensed area of operation.

First Name / Last Name: Please enter your full first and last name as well as any aliases, if applicable.

Street Address: Here you should enter your street name and house number.

Country: Select the name of your country from the drop-down menu.

City: Enter the name of your city.

State: Select the name of your state from the drop-down menu.

Zip Code: Please enter your 5-digit zip code.
 
Phone: Please enter your phone number, including area code. This will be included in the information sent to contract partners.

Fax: You have the option of entering a private or business fax number. This will be included in the information sent to contract partners.

Cellular phone number: You can also enter your cell phone number. This will be included in the information sent to contract partners.

Birthday: Here you must enter your birthday in the format MM-DD-YYYY or you can use the on the calendar to the right of the field.

E-mail Address: Please enter your private or business e-mail address through which you wish to communicate with UnderTool.com and other members.

Username: Here you can select a user name with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 20 characters. You use this name to log in. Choose a descriptive and suitable name. The name of your company or your own name is recommended. However, the choice is up to you.

Password: Choose a password you will use to log in to Undertool.com. Your password must be at least 6 characters. To improve security, it is recommended you choose a combination of numbers, upper and lower case letters, and special characters.
If you ever forget your password, click on “Forgot My Password” and we will immediately send you instructions for creating a new password.

Step 3

In the third step, you can create a profile that other users can view.
Here you can enter a short description of your business or a service portfolio.
This is also a good place for your company motto, vision, and some references. In addition, you can upload two logos or key fotos. Ideally, the pictures should be in .jpg, .png, .gif, or .bmp format and relatively small in ssize. The resolution should be between 72 and 96 dpi.

Step 4

All the information you entered will be displayed and you now have the ability to correct anything, if necessary.
In addition, you have the option to subscribe to our newsletter. The newsletter provides information about news and special promotions on Undertool.com.

In order to finish registration, you must agree to our general terms and conditions. You access them by clicking on “Terms & Conditions” at the bottom of our start page.

Step 5

To complete your registration and activate your account, you must click on the link in the activation email you will receive shortly from Undertool.com. Once you have completed this step, your account will be activated and you can begin using our site as a registered member.

Don’t forget, you can make changes to your information at any time by accessing “My Undertool”. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send an email to info@undertool.com.

 

Good Luck!
The Undertool.com Team