The ubid-it Process
Contractors Compete.
You Save.
ubid-it is a reverse-auction marketplace for home improvement in Orlando, FL. Instead of calling five contractors and waiting a week for estimates, you post your project once and verified pros bid against each other. Competition drives prices down — homeowners save an average of 18% compared to collecting quotes on their own.
What Is a Reverse Auction?
In a traditional auction, one seller offers an item and multiple buyers compete by raising their bids — prices go up. In a reverse auction, one buyer (you) posts a need and multiple sellers (contractors) compete by lowering their bids — prices go down.
Reverse auctions have been used in government procurement and Fortune 500 supply chains for decades. Research by Deloitte and the Institute for Supply Management consistently finds 15–25% savings over traditional quote-gathering processes. ubid-it applies the same proven mechanism to home improvement, making it accessible to every Orlando homeowner — for free.
- • Search for contractors yourself
- • Schedule 3–5 individual walkthroughs
- • Wait days for each estimate to arrive
- • Compare quotes in your inbox or notes
- • No competitive pressure on price
- • No payment protection
- • Post once in 5 minutes
- • Verified contractors come to you
- • First bids in as little as 24 hours
- • All bids in one dashboard
- • Contractors compete — prices drop
- • Stripe escrow milestone payments
For Homeowners
Your Path from Project to Savings
Four simple steps separate you from a fully competitive bid for your next Orlando home improvement project.
Describe Your Project
Create a free account and fill out a short project form — scope of work, timeline, and rough budget. The form takes under five minutes. No commitments, no credit card, no hidden fees. ubid-it is 100% free for homeowners from start to finish.
Verified Contractors Compete
ubid-it notifies verified pros in your area. Because this is a reverse auction, contractors submit bids knowing others are competing — which drives prices down toward the true market rate. Homeowners who use reverse-auction bidding save an average of 18% compared to collecting quotes independently.
Compare Bids Side by Side
Your dashboard shows every bid in one place: price, timeline, contractor rating, license number, and insurance status. You can message contractors directly, ask follow-up questions, and review their completed-project photos — all before making any decision.
Choose and Pay Securely
Accept the bid that offers the best value — not just the lowest number. Once you accept, milestone-based payments are held in secure escrow through Stripe and released only as each agreed stage of work is completed and you approve it. Your money is protected at every step.
For Contractors
Win More Work Without Buying Leads
Unlike Angi or Thumbtack, ubid-it charges no upfront lead fees. You only pay a small platform fee when you win a job — so every dollar you spend goes toward revenue, not just contacts.
Apply and Get Verified
Complete identity verification and submit your credentials. For licensed trades, provide your DBPR license number. For all trades, add proof of insurance and portfolio photos. Verification typically completes within one business day.
Browse Matching Projects
Your dashboard surfaces projects that match your trade, service area, and availability. Each project listing shows the homeowner's scope of work, target timeline, and budget range so you can quickly decide which opportunities are worth bidding on.
Submit a Competitive Bid
Enter your all-in price, proposed timeline, and a short note about your approach. You can see how many other contractors have bid, which keeps the process transparent. Because you only pay a platform fee when you win work, there are no upfront lead costs eating into your margin.
Win the Job and Get Paid
When a homeowner accepts your bid, you receive their contact details and payment is staged through Stripe milestones. You receive each payment release promptly after the homeowner confirms milestone completion — typically within 24 hours.
Built for Orlando's Home Improvement Market
The Orlando metro area — encompassing Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties — is one of the fastest-growing housing markets in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau ranked Orlando among the top five metros for housing unit growth for three consecutive years through 2024. More homes mean more remodeling demand, and more remodeling demand means homeowners deserve a smarter way to find competitive prices.
The average Orlando kitchen remodel costs between $18,000 and $52,000 depending on scope, according to data from the National Kitchen and Bath Association. An 18% savings on a $30,000 project is $5,400 back in your pocket — simply because contractors are competing for your business instead of operating without competitive pressure.
Platform Comparison
ubid-it vs. the Alternatives
See how the reverse-auction model stacks up against collecting quotes yourself and using lead-generation platforms like Angi or Thumbtack.
| Feature | ubid-itReverse Auction | DIY Quote Gathering | Angi / ThumbtackLead-Gen Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to homeowner | Free | Free | Free (but costs are embedded in contractor quotes) |
| Average savings vs. market rate | 15–20% savings | 0–5% (no competitive pressure) | Often 5–10% more expensive (contractor pays per lead) |
| Contractor vetting | Credentials verified & displayed by ubid-it | Homeowner must verify manually | Varies; often self-reported only |
| Number of bids | Typically 3–6 competing bids | As many as you can schedule (time-consuming) | Usually 2–3 pre-screened matches |
| Bid transparency | All bids visible in one dashboard | Managed in your notes/email | Bids arrive separately; no side-by-side view |
| Payment protection | Stripe escrow with milestone releases | None — direct to contractor | None — direct to contractor |
| Time to first bid | Often under 24 hours | Days to schedule and wait for estimates | Hours to days |
| Contractor motivation | Compete on price to win the job | No competitive pressure to reduce price | Paid for the lead regardless of outcome |
Savings estimates based on internal platform data and National Association of Home Builders competitive bidding research. Individual results vary by project type and market conditions.
Contractor Verification
Every Contractor Is Verified Before They Can Bid
Florida requires contractors to hold a state license issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). ubid-it independently verifies every contractor's license status, general liability insurance certificate, and workers' compensation coverage before activating their account.
License numbers are displayed on every bid so you can cross-check them at myfloridalicense.com at any time. We re-verify contractor credentials on a rolling 90-day cycle, and any lapse in license or insurance results in immediate account suspension.
Secure Payments
Pay Only When Milestones Are Complete
Milestone-based escrow ensures you never pay for work that has not been done. Over $2 trillion in transactions are processed annually through Stripe's infrastructure — the same payment layer ubid-it uses to hold and release your funds.
Agree on Milestones
Before work begins, you and your contractor define payment milestones — specific, measurable checkpoints tied to progress, not a time schedule.
Funds Held in Escrow
Your payment is securely held by Stripe escrow. The contractor cannot access it until you approve the milestone. No surprises, no disputes about what was paid.
Release on Approval
When a milestone is complete, you inspect the work and release payment with one click. Disputes are handled by ubid-it's resolution team using documented evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about how ubid-it works for Orlando homeowners and contractors.
Ready to Put Contractors in Competition for Your Project?
Post your project in five minutes. It's free, there's no obligation, and most homeowners receive their first bid within 24 hours.
Serving Orlando, Winter Park, Kissimmee, Sanford, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, and surrounding Central Florida communities.