The Real Johnson logoTHE REAL JOHNSON
← Home

Help Center

Straight answers for customers, contractors, and handymen. If you can't find it here, it probably doesn't need doing.

1.Getting Started

What is The Real Johnson?

A marketplace that connects homeowners with contractors and handymen. The deal is simple: fair price up front, payment reserved before work begins, step-by-step proof of work, and earnings released after the customer reviews and approves.

How do I sign up?

Open the app and pick your role — customer, contractor, or handyman. The signup flow walks you through the rest.

Which role should I pick?

Does it cost anything to join?

Creating an account is free for all three roles.

2.Customer Guide

Posting a job

Describe the work, add photos if you have them, and you'll see a fair price before you book. The price you see is the price — not an estimate that grows in the driveway.

Protected Booking vs. Free / Unprotected Request

Following the work

Your job screen shows status at every stage. As the contractor or handyman works, photos and notes appear step by step.

Review and approve

When the work is marked complete, look it over — in person and in the app. Approve it, and earnings are released. If something's not right, flag it in the app before approving.

3.Contractor Guide

Finding jobs

Browse open jobs in your area and trade. Protected Bookings show that the customer's payment is reserved before you start — those are real jobs, not price-shopping.

Accepting a job

Accept in the app, and the schedule and job details are locked in for both sides.

On the job

Update status as you go — in transit, arrived, working. Document each stage with photos and notes. That record is your proof of work, and it's what the customer reviews.

Getting paid

Finish the work, submit it, and the customer reviews and approves. Earnings are released after approval. Your documentation is what makes approval fast — good photos close jobs.

Licensed-trade jobs

Jobs that require a licensed trade will check that your license is verified on your account. Keep your verification current.

4.Handyman Guide

Your lane

Smaller repairs, maintenance, odd jobs — the work that keeps a house running. You see fair pricing up front, same as the customer does.

How jobs work

Same flow as contractors: accept the job, update your status, document the work step by step with photos and notes, submit for review.

Getting paid

The customer reviews and approves; earnings are released after approval. On Protected Bookings, the payment was reserved before you started — you're not chasing anyone down after.

Building your reputation

Every documented, approved job builds your track record on the platform. The proof-of-work record does your marketing for you.

5.Pricing & Payment Reserve

How is the price set?

Pricing is established up front, before booking. Both sides see the same number. Know a real fair price before anyone shows up — that's the core of the platform.

What does “payment reserved” mean?

On a Protected Booking, the customer authorizes funds before work begins. No payment hold is placed until card confirmation. Funds are not captured until payment rules are met.

When does the contractor or handyman get paid?

Earnings are released after the customer reviews and approves the completed work.

What if I book without payment protection?

A Free / Unprotected Request needs no card. But it has no payment protection, and contractors may choose not to accept it.

Can the price change mid-job?

The booked price is the booked price. Any change in scope has to go through the app so both sides see and agree to it before it takes effect.

6.Scheduling & Job Status

Booking a time

Scheduling happens in the app when the job is accepted. Both sides see the same calendar entry.

Job statuses you'll see

A job moves through clear stages — accepted, in transit, arrived, work in progress, complete, and reviewed. Each status change is visible to both sides the moment it happens.

Rescheduling

Request a reschedule through the job screen. The other party confirms the new time in the app so there's one source of truth.

No-shows

If the other party doesn't show, report it from the job screen. Don't settle it off-platform — the app record is what protects you.

7.Photos, Notes & Proof of Work

Why proof of work matters

It's the backbone of the platform. Photos and notes at each stage mean nobody argues from memory. The customer sees what was done; the worker has a record that it was done right.

What to document (contractors and handymen)

What customers see

Every photo and note, in order, on the job screen — live as the work happens.

How this connects to payment

The proof-of-work record is what the customer reviews. Approval releases earnings. Clear documentation means fast approval.

8.Account & Verification

Verifying your account

All roles verify their contact info at signup. Contractors and handymen complete identity verification before taking jobs.

License verification (contractors)

If you carry a trade license, verify it on your profile. Licensed-trade jobs require verified licensure — the platform checks it before work can start.

Keeping info current

Out-of-date contact info or expired verification can block you from accepting jobs. Check your profile if something seems locked.

Changing roles

Contact support through the app if you signed up under the wrong role.

9.Troubleshooting

I can't accept a job

Check your verification status first — expired or incomplete verification blocks job acceptance. Licensed-trade jobs also require a verified license.

The customer hasn't approved my completed work

Make sure you submitted the job as complete in the app and your proof-of-work photos are attached. Customers approve faster when the record is complete. If it's been an unreasonable amount of time, contact support from the job screen.

A payment step won't go through

For Protected Bookings, funds must be authorized before work begins — if card confirmation didn't complete, the job can't move forward. Re-check your payment method in the app.

The app shows the wrong screen for my role

Log out and back in. If you still see the wrong role's screens, contact support — don't work around it.

Something else is broken

Use the support option in the app. Include the job number if it's about a specific job.

10.SOP Library

Coming soon. We're building a library of standard operating procedures — plain-English, step-by-step guides for common jobs and platform workflows, written for the people doing the work. Check back here.