The full lifecycle

From tap to done.
Six steps, fully observable.

Most marketplaces gloss over the middle of the booking. We don't. Here's exactly what happens between when a resident books and when the provider gets paid, and why each piece exists.

01
Demand

A resident declares intent

Opens the Swifli app. Picks a category, say, deep cleaning. Sets the time window, the apartment size, any preferences (eco-friendly products, pet on premises). Reviews the price estimate. Taps book.

Why it works this way

Under five minutes from open to booking confirmation. The resident never has to leave the app, no SMS handoffs, no half-finished forms.

02
Match

Verified providers nearby respond

Within seconds, providers in the resident's service radius whose category, availability, and rating match the request see the job offer. They accept, decline, or counter with a tweak (e.g., shift the start time by 30 minutes).

Why it works this way

Matching weighs distance, rating, how quickly a provider finishes jobs, category fit, and the resident's history with that provider. No bidding wars; first-accept wins by default, and the resident can also pick from a shortlist for high-value bookings.

03
Hold

Payment goes into escrow

On match confirmation, the booking amount moves out of the resident's account and into a Swifli-controlled escrow account, not into the provider's wallet. Both parties see the same payment status panel.

Why it works this way

This is the foundation of trust. The provider knows the money is real. The resident knows the money isn't gone yet. Disputes get resolved against held funds, not after-the-fact chargebacks.

04
Work

The work happens

Provider arrives, completes the work, marks it done in-app. Both parties exchange messages and photos inside Swifli, never via personal phone numbers, never on SMS.

Why it works this way

Keeping messages in the app protects both sides. If something goes wrong, we have a full record. No more "they texted me from a different number."

05
Settle

Resident confirms, escrow releases

Resident reviews and confirms completion (or flags an issue). On confirmation, escrow releases to the provider, minus the platform fee. Funds typically reach the provider account in 1–3 business days; same-week payouts unlock at 5+ jobs / 4.5★+.

Why it works this way

If the resident flags an issue, escrow holds. Our trust team reviews within 48 hours and decides based on platform records (timestamps, messages, photos). No he-said-she-said.

06
Reputation

Both sides rate, scores compound

Two-way rating: resident rates the provider, provider rates the resident. Ratings feed back into matching, so high-trust residents see preferred providers first, and top-rated providers get the best of incoming demand.

Why it works this way

Reputation is what keeps people here over the long run. A provider's score isn't lost when they switch categories; a resident's verified score makes them more attractive to top providers for the next booking.

Trust & safety

Six rules that don't bend.

These aren't nice-to-have principles; they're rules the platform enforces by default, on every booking, with no toggles.

Verified before they're listed

Government ID, background check, references, and for skilled categories, credential verification. Every provider, no exceptions.

Your money waits safely

Payment is authorised at booking and held in escrow with our payment processor until you confirm the work is done.

Insured providers, written agreements

Every provider carries general liability insurance. Specialty categories require additional credential-specific coverage on file.

In-app chat only

No phone numbers exchanged, no emails shared. Communication stays in the app so it can be referenced if anything goes wrong.

24-hour dispute window

You have a full day after the work is marked complete to raise an issue. Escrow stays locked while a dispute is open.

Ratings from real neighbours

Reviews come from verified, completed bookings, never anonymous. Provider reputation is built on real work, not gamed.

Try it on a real task.

The system makes sense when you use it. Pick the door that fits.