Question 1

What is HiNeighbor, in one sentence?

Accepted Answer

It's a place to post the home or yard project you're working on so nearby neighbors can see what you need - a hand, a tool, or advice - and offer it.

Question 2

Is it free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Posting a project, joining a project, lending a tool, and using Hank to plan are all free. If we ever add paid features they'll be clearly optional and we'll tell you first.

Question 3

How do I join my neighborhood?

Accepted Answer

Enter your ZIP code at signup and pick your neighborhood from the list we find. You never have to type your street address to get started.

Question 4

What if my neighborhood isn't listed?

Accepted Answer

Pick the closest match - you can change it later in your profile - and email support@hineighbor.ai with the name your area actually goes by. That's how our map gets better.

Question 5

What if nobody from my street has joined yet?

Accepted Answer

You can still post, and you'll see adjacent neighborhoods too. The fastest way to get things moving is to share your project link with a few neighbors directly - there's a Share button on every project.

Question 6

Do I have to share my exact address?

Accepted Answer

No. Your address is optional. You choose whether your home pin is exact, approximate, limited to your neighborhood, or hidden completely - and you can change it any time in Privacy settings.

Question 7

Who can see my project?

Accepted Answer

You decide per project: your immediate neighbors, surrounding neighborhoods, specific neighborhoods you choose, or everyone on HiNeighbor. You can also control whether your photo, name, and project history appear.

Question 8

Can I hide parts of a project from neighbors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Owners get a "Preview as a neighbor" toggle so you can see exactly what others see, choose whether Hank's research is shown, and cross tools off the list neighbors see.

Question 9

Do you sell my information?

Accepted Answer

No. We don't sell your personal information and we don't share it with data brokers. The details are in our Privacy Policy.

Question 10

Who actually shows up - is this contractors?

Accepted Answer

It's neighbors. If someone happens to do this work for a living and genuinely lives in your neighborhood, great - but HiNeighbor isn't a place for outside businesses to solicit jobs.

Question 11

How does borrowing a tool work?

Accepted Answer

Neighbors list tools they can bring, and on your project you mark which tools you already have. Everything left over is what someone helping could provide. You and your neighbor agree on how long you're borrowing it and what happens if something breaks.

Question 12

What if a tool gets damaged or isn't returned?

Accepted Answer

Agree up front on condition, timeframe, and a deposit if it's an expensive tool. HiNeighbor isn't a party to the arrangement and can't replace a tool, but you can report a neighbor who didn't honor an agreement and we'll look into it.

Question 13

Can I claim a specific task instead of the whole project?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Once you join, you can assign yourself to individual to-do items and pick which tools you'll bring, so everyone knows who has what.

Question 14

What if I join and then can't make it?

Accepted Answer

Un-join or unassign yourself as early as you can - it shows up in the project's activity feed so the owner can plan around it. Just don't leave a neighbor waiting on a Saturday morning.

Question 15

Do I have to pay neighbors?

Accepted Answer

No. Most projects are traded in dinner, drinks, baked goods, a favor returned, or plain gratitude. You say up front what you're offering so nobody has to guess.

Question 16

Can I offer money if I want to?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can offer cash or card as your thank-you. Card payments run through a third-party processor; HiNeighbor doesn't hold funds or guarantee payment.

Question 17

How much should I offer?

Accepted Answer

Hank can estimate what a project typically costs so you have a reference point. For a couple of hours of neighborly help, a real meal and a genuine thank-you goes a long way.

Question 18

Do you background-check neighbors?

Accepted Answer

We verify accounts and enforce community rules, but we don't run criminal background checks or verify licenses. Use the same judgment you'd use inviting anyone onto your property.

Question 19

What about anything electrical, structural, or up a ladder?

Accepted Answer

Get a licensed professional when that's the right call - permits, gas, panel work, structural changes, big tree removal. HiNeighbor is great for the other 80% of your list.

Question 20

Am I liable if a neighbor gets hurt helping me?

Accepted Answer

Possibly, depending on where you live and your coverage. Check with your homeowner's or renter's insurance before a work day. HiNeighbor doesn't provide insurance.

Question 21

How do I report someone?

Accepted Answer

Email support@hineighbor.ai with the project or neighbor and what happened. We can remove content, limit features, or close accounts that put neighbors at risk.

Question 22

What can Hank do?

Accepted Answer

Hank can turn a rough idea into a plan: a to-do list, the tools you'll need, a rough cost range, how long it should take, and a weather-aware day to do it. You can talk to Hank right on the project page.

Question 23

Is Hank always right?

Accepted Answer

No. Treat Hank's plans and cost estimates as a well-informed starting point, not professional advice - and edit anything he drafts. Every section he writes is yours to change.

Question 24

Is what I tell Hank private?

Accepted Answer

Your conversation is processed by an AI provider on our behalf and isn't used to train third-party models. Neighbors only see Hank's research if you choose to show it.

Question 25

Why was I signed out?

Accepted Answer

On purpose. We sign you out after a period of inactivity or when you close the window, so your neighborhood and project details aren't left open on a shared device.

Question 26

Can I save a project and finish it later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Projects you're drafting autosave and are waiting for you under Saved, along with your bookmarked and archived projects.

Question 27

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Email support@hineighbor.ai and we'll remove your profile, projects, and messages. Some records may remain briefly in backups or where the law requires us to keep them.

Questions neighbors ask us

Getting started

Privacy and what neighbors see

Help, tools, and getting the work done

Thank-yous, barter, and payment

Safety and responsibility

Hank, the planning assistant

Your account