> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kordless.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How bidding works

> The full path from a homeowner's first question to a deposited, booked project — and where you fit in.

Every project in Kordless follows the same loop: a homeowner asks, the agent bids the work from your rate card, the homeowner pays a deposit and picks a slot, and the job lands on your service calendar. You stay in control at the points that matter — high-value or unusual projects wait for your approval before a price ever reaches the homeowner.

## The loop

<Steps>
  <Step title="A request comes in">
    Photos and questions arrive from your website chat, a form, a text, or an email. The agent reads them and starts a conversation. A new bid appears in the **Bid Desk** under *Being quoted*.
  </Step>

  <Step title="The agent qualifies the project">
    The agent identifies the project type (build, remodel, repair, maintenance, or seasonal), asks your qualifying questions about pool type, size, surface, equipment, access, and timing, and matches the request to a service and package in your rate card. You can watch this happen in real time on the bid's detail page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="A bid goes out — or waits for you">
    The agent computes a price range from the rates you published. Maintenance and seasonal bids with fixed pricing go out automatically. Build and remodel bids are ranges that may require a site visit — the homeowner sees the range, but the final price is confirmed on site. High-value projects or anything over your approval threshold are held under **Needs you** — no price reaches the homeowner until you decide.
  </Step>

  <Step title="The homeowner commits">
    When the homeowner accepts, they pay a deposit and pick a time slot from the bid link. The bid moves to **Deposited**, the booking lands on your Service calendar, and the property gets a record in your Properties.
  </Step>

  <Step title="The work gets done">
    You complete the work and mark the job done. The balance is collected through a payment link or in person on site.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Where you fit in

Most bids never need your attention — the agent handles intake, pricing, and deposit on its own. You step in when:

* **A bid is held for approval.** The *Needs you* lane shows the property, the photos, the suggested price range, and why it was held. You approve, adjust the price, or decline.
* **A deposited project needs scheduling.** If the homeowner paid a deposit but hasn't picked a slot, the bid shows in *Deposited — needs scheduling* with a link you can re-share.
* **A completed project needs its balance.** After you mark a job done, the balance link goes out — or you collect on site.
* **A site visit is required.** Build and remodel packages are bid as ranges pending site-visit confirmation. After the visit, you confirm or adjust the final price.

## How the agent bids

The agent never invents a price. Every bid is computed line-by-line from your published rate card — the same numbers you calibrated during onboarding. The price range accounts for the pool size class, any modifiers the homeowner's photos or answers reveal (limited access, crane access, salt system, attached spa), and your rounding rules. You'll see the full derivation on each bid's detail page, so you always know how a number was reached.

## Bid modes

Each package in your rate card has a bid mode that controls what happens when the agent prices it:

| Mode           | What happens                                                                                                                                                                    |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Instant**    | The agent sends the bid immediately. Maintenance and seasonal packages use this — pricing is a fixed per-pool-size table with near-zero variance.                               |
| **Review**     | The bid is held for your approval before the homeowner sees a price. Used for equipment repair packages where the scope can vary.                                               |
| **Site visit** | The agent sends a range, but the final price is confirmed after a site visit. Used for build and remodel packages where terrain, engineering, and permits affect the true cost. |

## Channels

Bids can arrive from four channels:

| Channel      | How it works                                                                                                                                          |
| ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Web chat** | A visitor chats on your website — the agent qualifies and bids in the conversation.                                                                   |
| **Form**     | A homeowner submits a form on your site with photos and questions.                                                                                    |
| **Text**     | A homeowner texts your Kordless number. Requires [SMS setup](/pool-spa/getting-started/connect-your-channels#register-for-text-messaging).            |
| **Email**    | A homeowner emails your bid address. Requires [branded email setup](/pool-spa/getting-started/connect-your-channels#send-email-from-your-own-domain). |

You can also create a bid yourself — click **New bid** on the Bid Desk and pick a homeowner and delivery channel.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Your rate card" icon="book" href="/pool-spa/bidding/rate-card">
    Edit services, packages, and pool sizes — and control which bids go out on their own.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reviewing and approving bids" icon="clipboard-check" href="/pool-spa/bidding/approving-bids">
    The approval queue: what needs your attention, how to approve, adjust, or decline.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Deposits and scheduling" icon="calendar-check" href="/pool-spa/bidding/deposits-and-scheduling">
    How a homeowner pays a deposit and picks their slot from the bid link.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Balance and final payment" icon="credit-card" href="/pool-spa/bidding/balance-and-final-payment">
    Collecting the remaining balance when the project is done.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>