SiteWatch Operations Guide

Master Reference Document — Single source of truth for SiteWatch business operations.

Last updated: June 20, 2026

Live URLs (Deployed & Production-Ready)

Status (June 20, 2026): Landing page and report page are both at 10/10 quality. Redesigned with dark slate/amber theme, interactive report widget, "Become a Verifier" recruitment funnel, coverage area tags, OG image for social sharing, sticky mobile action bar on report page, and full liability disclaimers.

Status: All 7 flow steps tested and passing (Login ✅, Home ✅, GPS ✅, Photos ✅, Checklist ✅, Review ✅, Submit ✅). Auto-dispatch and auto-payout enabled from day 1.

1. Service Overview

What SiteWatch Is

SiteWatch is a verification-only platform that connects diaspora homeowners with local verifiers who visually document construction progress on their behalf.

What SiteWatch Is NOT

• ❌ Not a marketplace (we don't list builders or materials)
• ❌ Not project management (we don't schedule or manage builds)
• ❌ Not escrow (we don't hold or release construction funds)

Core Flow

Owner requests visit → Platform dispatches verifier → Verifier visits site →
Photos + checklist captured in-app → Report delivered to owner (24-48h)

Critical Framing

ALWAYS: "Visual verification" or "Visual documentation"

NEVER: "Inspection"

This is not semantic — it's a liability boundary. "Inspection" implies professional engineering judgment. We document observable conditions only.

2. Pricing Strategy

Fixed Tiers (Launch Pricing)

Fee Breakdown ($35 Standard Visit)

Owner pays:                          $35.00
  └─ Stripe processing (2.9% + $0.30): -$1.32
  └─ Platform revenue:                  $10.00
  └─ Verifier payout:                  $25.00
      └─ EcoCash IMTT 2%:              -$0.50
      └─ Verifier receives:            $24.50

Platform net per visit:              $8.68

Partner Pricing (YouTuber Model)

Partners operate with a revenue-share model similar to YouTube creator economics:

How partner pricing works:

• Partner sets their own price (e.g., Godwin charges $50)
• Platform adds its fee on top (e.g., 15% = $7.50)
• Owner pays $57.50
• Platform keeps $7.50
• Partner keeps $50

Landing Page Positioning

Headline price: "$35 per visit"

Anchoring strategy:

• "Others charge $75–150 per visit" (eQaya comparison)
• "Flying home to check yourself: $2,000+ in flights alone"
• "One bad pour costs $5,000+ to fix — $35 to catch it is insurance"

Frame as: Insurance, not expense. Peace of mind, not overhead.

3. Agent Standards

Tier 1: Photo Documenter ($25/visit)

Requirements:

• Smartphone with GPS camera (post-2020 model, >8MP rear camera)
• Reliable transport to reach site within 24–48 hours
• Basic literacy (can follow a checklist in English or Shona)
• NOT affiliated with the builder on that specific project
• Passes one supervised test visit before activation

What they do:

• Follow the app checklist
• Take required photos (minimum 8)
• Note visible activity and materials
• Submit through the app

Tier 2: Construction Verifier ($45/visit)

Requirements:

• All Tier 1 requirements, PLUS:
• Construction knowledge (can identify plumb walls, rebar spacing, mortar quality, DPC placement)
• Can flag anomalies beyond what the checklist asks
• Can write informed notes ("ring beam appears undersize" vs just "ring beam photo")
• 2+ years experience in construction, project management, architecture, or quantity surveying

What they do:

• Everything Tier 1 does, PLUS:
• Provide qualitative assessment of workmanship
• Flag concerns with specific construction knowledge
• Write detailed notes that help owners ask the right questions

Tier 3: Aerial Verifier (+$20–30/visit)

Requirements:

• Owns a drone (DJI Mini or equivalent)
• Demonstrated safe flying capability
• Can capture 5–8 clear aerial shots at 50–100m altitude
• Optional: can produce smooth 60-second flyover video

What they do:

• Provide bird's-eye documentation of site layout, roof progress, plot boundaries
• Aerial perspective that ground photos cannot capture
• Video flyovers for milestone moments (slab, roof, completion)

4. Photo Quality Standards (Non-Negotiable)

Technical Enforcement (Built Into App)

Required Shots Per Visit

Every visit must include:

1. Wide establishing shot — Full site from best vantage point
2. 4× elevation shots — North, South, East, West faces
3. 2–3× detail shots — Specific work being verified (per phase)
4. 1× materials on site — What's there, what's been delivered
5. 1× activity shot — Workers present (or absence documented)

Phase-specific checklists add additional required shots:

• Foundation: trench depth, DPC, drainage
• Walls: plumb check, window openings, mortar joints
• Roof: truss spacing, purlins, tie-downs
• Finishes: plastering, painting, tiling

Rejection Criteria

QA Ramp-Up Schedule

First 5 reports:     Elber manually reviews every report before release
After 5 clean:       Auto-release to owner, Elber spot-checks 1-in-5
After 20 clean:      Fully autonomous, random audit 1-in-10

A "clean" report means: all photos present, GPS valid, checklist complete, no owner complaints within 48 hours.

5. Partner Network

YouTuber Partners (Distribution + Trust Layer)

Total combined reach: ~188K subscribers

All are friends who meet regularly — word-of-mouth recruitment is natural.

Partner Strategy

• YouTubers = Tier 1 Photo Documenters with massive built-in distribution
• They already visit sites and film — SiteWatch formalizes what they do casually
• Specialist freelancers = Tier 2 Construction Verifiers recruited separately (QS students, retired builders, site foremen)
• Approach: Contact 2–3 YouTubers individually in July, let word-of-mouth do the rest
• Their audiences ARE our customers — every video mention = organic marketing

Verifier Recruitment Pipeline (Uber Model)

SiteWatch operates a gig-economy model for verifier recruitment — similar to how Uber recruits drivers. Verifiers sign up, get vetted, and receive jobs based on proximity, availability, and tier qualification.

Supply Pools by Tier

Onboarding Flow (Uber-Style)

1. SIGN UP        → WhatsApp form or simple web form
                     (Name, location, qualifications, experience, phone model, transport,
                      areas they can cover, max travel distance, home base GPS pin)

2. VETTING        → Document verification
                     Tier 1: NID + phone camera test photo
                     Tier 2: NID + degree/diploma upload + 2 references
                     Tier 3: NID + drone ownership proof + sample aerial shots
                     ALL TIERS: Coverage area confirmation (multi-select suburbs/towns
                     + maximum km radius from home base)

3. TRAINING       → Short PWA-based module (20 min)
                     - How to use the app (photo capture, checklist, GPS check-in)
                     - Photo quality standards (what gets rejected)
                     - Tier 2 only: Construction quality indicators training video
                     - Quiz at end (must pass 80%+)

4. CALIBRATION    → Supervised first jobs
                     Tier 1: First 2 jobs reviewed by Elber before release
                     Tier 2: First 3 jobs independently assessed against same site
                     Tier 3: First flight reviewed for safety + image quality

5. ACTIVATION     → Live in the dispatch pool
                     Auto-dispatched based on proximity + availability + rating

Dispatch Algorithm (V2 — Post-Manual Phase)

Job comes in → Filter by:
  1. Tier qualification (does the job require Tier 1 or Tier 2?)
  2. Self-declared coverage area (did verifier list this suburb/town?)
  3. Distance from home base (within their stated max travel km)
  4. Availability (opted-in for jobs this week)
  5. Rating (higher-rated verifiers get priority)
  6. Rotation (avoid same verifier 3+ times at same site)

→ Assign to best match → WhatsApp notification → 2hr accept window
→ If declined/no response → cascade to next match

Coverage area benefit: As new verifiers sign up in new areas, platform
coverage map auto-expands. Owners can check "Do you cover my area?"
against real verifier availability — not aspirational claims.

Verifier Ratings & Performance

Deactivation triggers:

• 2 no-shows → suspended pending review
• 3 rejected reports in a row → retraining required
• Any GPS spoofing attempt → permanent ban
• Owner complaint about unprofessional conduct → investigation + possible removal

Launch Phase (Manual — July–September 2026)

• Elber manually vets 2–3 Tier 2 candidates via WhatsApp (credential check + video call)
• Dispatch is manual (Elber assigns jobs in WhatsApp group)
• QA is manual (Elber reviews every report)
• Build self-serve onboarding once 10+ verifiers and 20+ jobs/month are flowing

Liability Protection Framework

The critical risk: A bad verification gives an owner false confidence before releasing $5,000+ to a builder. SiteWatch must protect against this with multiple layers.

Layer 1: Language (Legal Framing)

Every report includes this disclaimer:

DISCLAIMER: This report documents observable conditions at the time of visit. It is NOT an engineering inspection, structural assessment, or professional certification. SiteWatch verifiers document what is visually apparent — they do not certify structural integrity, compliance with building codes, or fitness for purpose. For structural assessments, consult a registered Professional Engineer or Quantity Surveyor.

Key rule in ALL marketing and copy: "Visual documentation" or "visual verification" — NEVER "inspection."

Layer 2: Tiered Scope of Responsibility

Layer 3: Verifier Contractor Agreement (Signed on Onboarding)

Every verifier signs before their first job:

• "I am an independent contractor, not an employee of SiteWatch"
• "I will report honestly what I observe"
• "I understand my role is visual documentation, not professional engineering assessment"
• "I will NOT provide guarantees about structural safety"
• "I will NOT advise builders on what to do — I document and leave"
• Indemnity clause: verifier holds SiteWatch harmless for decisions owners make based on reports

Layer 4: Platform Terms of Service (Owner-Facing)

Owners agree on booking:

"SiteWatch reports are informational only. They document visual conditions and should not replace professional engineering assessments for structural decisions. Payment decisions remain the owner's sole responsibility. SiteWatch is not liable for construction defects, builder misconduct, or losses arising from decisions made using our reports."

Layer 5: Operational Safeguards

Layer 6: Insurance (Future — ~6 Months Post-Launch)

Once revenue justifies it:

• Professional indemnity insurance for the LLC
• E&O (Errors & Omissions) coverage
• Per-claim limit aligned with typical diaspora build value ($20K–$50K)
• Cost estimate: $500–$1,500/year for small-scale operations

Layer 7: The "Out" Statement (On Every Report)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
✅ What this report IS:
   An honest, GPS-verified visual record of your site on [date].

❌ What this report is NOT:
   An engineering inspection or guarantee of quality.

💡 Our recommendation:
   Use this report alongside professional advice for any
   structural or payment decisions.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Summary Analogy

SiteWatch = home inspector, NOT structural engineer.

• Home inspector: "I see a crack in the foundation wall." → Documented observation.
• Structural engineer: "This foundation is structurally unsafe." → Professional liability.

We document. We don't certify. The legal shield is in the framing + ToS + disclaimer on every report.

5b. Tax Structure

Entity Type

Single-member LLC (Delaware, via Stripe Atlas) — Elber as 100% sole owner/managing member.

Tax Treatment

• Disregarded entity — no separate LLC tax return
• All income/loss flows to Elber's Schedule C on the joint 1040 (Married Filing Jointly)
• Self-employment tax: 15.3% on net profit (SE tax)
• Income tax: At marginal rate (likely 22% bracket given Amazon W-2)
• QBI deduction: 20% off qualified business income (Section 199A)

Key Numbers

Deductible Expenses

• LLC formation (Stripe Atlas ~$500)
• Domain registration, hosting (AWS, Cloudflare)
• Twilio, Stripe fees, EcoCash/Paynow fees
• Business portion of phone, internet, home office
• Business portion of Zimbabwe travel (July trip)
• Marketing spend

Quarterly Estimated Payments

Required if expected tax liability >$1,000/year. Due: April 15, June 15, September 15, January 15.

Immigration Safety

• Schedule C shows Elber's name only — zero attribution to Tatenda
• No K-1 generated (single-member, not partnership)
• Clean at I-485: Tatenda's W-2 from Amazon + Elber's Schedule C from her LLC

6. Service Level Agreements

7. Cancellation & Edge Cases

Site Locked / No Activity

• Verifier receives partial pay: $10–15 (they still traveled)
• Owner gets rescheduled visit or partial refund
• Report notes: "Site locked, no access. Photos of exterior/gate taken."

Report Dispute

• Position: "We document, we don't arbitrate"
• Offer a second visit at cost ($25) with a different verifier
• If pattern of disputes with one verifier → investigate verifier quality

Verifier No-Show

• Escalate to Elber immediately
• Reassign same day if possible
• If no same-day reassignment available, notify owner with new date
• Verifier gets warning (2 no-shows = deactivation)

EcoCash Down

• Elber pays verifier manually via her own phone as fallback
• Reconcile when system is back up
• Never delay verifier pay — trust is everything

8. Drone Services (Phase 2)

MVP Implementation

• Drone photos uploaded through same PWA (just different angles/altitude)
• No special drone upload flow needed initially
• App tags them as "aerial" based on altitude metadata or manual tag

Video Handling

• Video uploaded to YouTube as unlisted
• Link pasted into report notes field
• Report displays embedded video link for owner
• Owner can share link with family/advisors

Future (Full Drone Support)

• Build when 3+ owners/month request drone services
• Includes: direct video upload, in-app player, aerial tagging, measurement overlay
• Consider partnership with drone-as-a-service if demand exceeds supply

9. Legal Positioning

Language Rules

Liability Framework

• Verifiers provide visual documentation of observable conditions only
• Reports are NOT engineering assessments, structural evaluations, or professional inspections
• Liability capped at the verification fee paid for that visit
• No implied warranty of fitness, safety, or compliance
• If owner wants professional assessment → we recommend they hire a registered engineer

Verifier Agreement (Key Terms)

• Independent contractor (not employee)
• Uses own equipment (phone, transport, drone)
• No engineering judgment expected or permitted
• Cannot advise owner to fire builder or stop work
• Can only document and note what they observe
• Indemnifies SiteWatch against claims arising from their documentation

10. Currency & Payments

All-USD Model

Diaspora owner (UK/SA/US/etc.)
    │
    ▼ Pays in USD via Stripe
SiteWatch Platform
    │
    ▼ Pays in USD via EcoCash USD wallet (Paynow API)
Local Verifier

Key Decisions

• No ZiG conversion — everything stays in USD throughout
• Diaspora owners pay in USD (Stripe handles their local currency → USD)
• Verifiers are paid in USD to their EcoCash USD wallet
• Platform revenue remains in USD
• No exposure to local currency volatility

Payment Rails

• Inbound: Stripe (card payments from diaspora)
• Outbound: Paynow → EcoCash USD wallet (verifier payouts)
• Fallback: Elber's personal EcoCash for manual payouts if system is down

Quick Reference Card

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           SITEWATCH AT A GLANCE                  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ What:    Visual verification platform            │
│ Who:     Diaspora homeowners → Local verifiers   │
│ Price:   $35 (standard) / $60 (premium)          │
│ SLA:     48h (standard) / 24h (premium)          │
│ Currency: USD end-to-end                         │
│ Revenue: $8.68 net per standard visit            │
│ Legal:   Documentation only, not inspection      │
│ QA:      8+ photos, GPS, geofence, time check   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

This document is the single source of truth for SiteWatch operations. All team members, partners, and verifiers should reference this guide. Update as decisions evolve.