Terms of Service

The Service includes:

• Property listing browsing, searching, and filtering functionality
• Video-based property showcases and virtual tours
• Communication tools between viewers and providers (messaging)
• Personalized property recommendations based on preferences and behavior
• User profile and account management
• Saved properties and custom lists
• Property sharing and collaboration features

Provider Representations & Warranties:

By listing a property on Karat, you represent and warrant that:

• Accuracy: All listing information (price, location, features, availability, descriptions) is accurate, complete, and not misleading
• Authorization: You have the legal right and authority to list the property (as owner, authorized agent, or with written consent)
• Media Rights: You own or have obtained all necessary rights to use photos, videos, and other media in your listings
• Licensing: If you are a real estate professional, you hold all required licenses, permits, and certifications in your jurisdiction
• Compliance: Your listings and conduct comply with all applicable real estate laws, regulations, fair housing laws, and advertising standards
• No Discrimination: You will not discriminate against potential buyers or renters based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, or any other protected characteristic

Content Standards for Providers:

• No Misleading Information: Listings must not contain false or deceptive pricing, availability, or property details
• Timely Updates: You must promptly update or remove listings when properties are sold, rented, or no longer available
• Professional Conduct: All communications with potential buyers/renters must be professional, respectful, and lawful
• No Spam: You may not use the platform to send unsolicited marketing messages or harvest user data

Provider Indemnification:

Provider Account Suspension:

We may immediately suspend or terminate Provider accounts for:

• Posting fraudulent or misleading listings
• Multiple complaints from users about listing accuracy or conduct
• Violation of real estate laws or licensing requirements
• Failure to respond to inquiries or update listings
• Any conduct that damages Karat's reputation or user trust

Suspended Providers may request a review by emailing hello@karat.re. We are not liable for any losses during suspension periods.

Account Creation & Requirements:

• Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old to create an account
• Accurate Information: You must provide truthful, accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• One Account Per Person: Each individual may maintain only one active account
• Email Verification: You must verify your email address to activate your account
• Prohibited Users: We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who has previously been banned or terminated

Account Security & Responsibilities:

You are solely responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your password and login credentials
• All activities that occur under your account, whether authorized or not
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breach
• Ensuring your account information remains accurate and up-to-date
• Logging out of your account at the end of each session on shared devices

You agree NOT to: Share your account credentials, sell or transfer your account, or allow others to access your account.

Account Suspension & Termination:

We may suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms or our policies
• You engage in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• You provide false or misleading information
• Your account has been inactive for an extended period (after notice)
• We are required to do so by law or regulatory authority

Prohibited Content:

You agree NOT to upload, post, or transmit content that:

• Is false, misleading, or fraudulent (including fake property listings)
• Violates intellectual property rights (copyrighted images, videos, or text without permission)
• Is offensive, abusive, harassing, threatening, or discriminatory
• Contains illegal content or promotes illegal activities
• Contains spam, advertising, or unsolicited commercial messages
• Contains malware, viruses, or harmful code
• Violates privacy rights (e.g., doxxing, unauthorized personal information)
• Is sexually explicit, pornographic, or obscene
• Promotes violence, terrorism, or hate speech

Prohibited Conduct:

You agree NOT to:

• Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely represent your affiliation
• Circumvent, disable, or interfere with security features of the Service
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers, crawlers) to access or collect data
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to systems, accounts, or data
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Service
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers/networks
• Use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any laws
• Transmit unsolicited or unauthorized advertising or promotional materials
• Collect or store personal data of other users without consent
• Engage in any activity that damages our reputation or business

Consequences of Violations:

Violation of these content or conduct rules may result in:

• Content Removal: Immediate deletion of violating content
• Account Suspension: Temporary restriction of account access
• Account Termination: Permanent deletion of your account
• Legal Action: Reporting to law enforcement or pursuing legal remedies
• Liability for Damages: You may be held liable for damages caused by violations

Platform Intellectual Property (Owned by FARAWAYHOME OÜ):

All content, features, and functionality of the Service, including but not limited to:

• Software, code, and algorithms (including recommendation systems)
• UI/UX designs, layouts, and visual elements
• Karat name, logo, trademarks, and branding
• Text, graphics, and other materials created by us

...are the exclusive property of FARAWAYHOME OÜ and are protected by copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws of Estonia, the EU, and international treaties.

You may NOT: Copy, modify, distribute, sell, lease, or create derivative works of our intellectual property without prior written permission.

Your Content (User-Generated Content):

You retain ownership of all content you upload, post, or transmit through the Service, including:

• Property listings, descriptions, and details
• Photos, videos, and media files
• Messages and communications
• Profile information and bio

License Grant to Karat:

By uploading or posting content, you grant FARAWAYHOME OÜ a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to:

• Use: Display, reproduce, modify, and distribute your content for Service operation
• Marketing: Feature your content in promotional materials, social media, and advertising (with attribution where appropriate)
• Service Improvement: Analyze your content to improve recommendations, search results, and platform features
• Third-Party Distribution: Share your content with integrated services (e.g., video hosting, geocoding)

License Duration: This license continues until you delete your content or close your account, except for content that has been shared or distributed (which may persist in backups or caches for a reasonable period).

Your Representations & Warranties:

By posting content, you represent and warrant that:

• You own or have obtained all necessary rights, licenses, and permissions to the content
• Your content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights
• Your content does not violate any laws, regulations, or these Terms
• Your content is accurate, truthful, and not misleading
• You have obtained all necessary consents from individuals depicted in photos/videos

Third-Party Content & Links:

The Service may contain content provided by third parties (e.g., user-generated listings) and links to external websites. We do not endorse, verify, or assume responsibility for any third-party content or linked sites. Your use of third-party content and websites is at your own risk.

Google API Services:

Karat offers optional integration with Google services, including the ability to import contacts from Google Contacts for CRM purposes. When you use these features:

• You authorize Karat to access your Google data as described in our Privacy Policy
• You agree to Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
• You can revoke access at any time through your Google Account Settings

Other Third-Party Services:

We may integrate with additional third-party services (e.g., Microsoft Outlook, phone contact sync). Each integration will be clearly disclosed, and you will be asked to authorize access before any data is accessed. See our Privacy Policy for details on data processors and how we handle third-party data.

Service Availability:

• The Service is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis
• We strive for high uptime but do not guarantee uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free access
• Scheduled maintenance will be announced in advance when possible
• We are not liable for temporary unavailability due to technical issues, maintenance, or third-party service disruptions

Right to Modify or Discontinue:

We reserve the right to:

• Modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature or functionality of the Service
• Change the Service structure, design, or user experience
• Impose limits on features (e.g., storage, uploads, API access)
• Discontinue the Service entirely (with reasonable notice)

We will provide advance notice for material changes when feasible, but we are not obligated to maintain any particular feature or functionality.

Specific Disclaimers:

Maximum Liability Cap:

In any event, our total aggregate liability to you for all claims arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall not exceed the greater of:

• EUR 100 (one hundred euros), OR
• The total amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim (if applicable)

Exceptions (Where Liability Cannot Be Limited):

The limitations above do NOT apply to liability for:

• Death or personal injury caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct
• Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
• Violations of mandatory consumer protection laws (where applicable)
• Any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law

Governing Law:

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Estonia, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Jurisdiction & Venue:

Any disputes, claims, or controversies arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Tallinn, Estonia.

Arbitration (Optional):

The parties may agree to submit any dispute to binding arbitration under the Estonian Arbitration Act, instead of litigation. Such agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties.

Termination by You:

You may close your account at any time through the Settings page. Upon account closure:

• Your account will be marked as deleted (soft delete)
• Your personal data will be anonymized immediately
• You will have a 30-day grace period to recover your account by logging back in
• After 30 days, your data will be permanently deleted (hard delete)

See our Privacy Policy for details on data retention and deletion.

Termination by Us:

We may suspend or terminate your account, with or without notice, if:

• You violate these Terms or our policies
• You engage in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Your account has been inactive for an extended period (after notice)
• We are required to do so by law or regulatory authority
• Continued provision of the Service would create legal or security risks

Effect of Termination:

• Your right to access and use the Service will immediately cease
• All licenses granted to you under these Terms will terminate
• Data will be retained or deleted per our Data Retention Policy
• Provisions that by their nature should survive (e.g., indemnification, limitation of liability, governing law) will remain in effect

Notification of Changes:

• Material Changes: We will notify you via email (to your registered address) and/or through an in-app notification at least 30 days before the changes take effect
• Re-Acceptance Required: For significant updates, you may be required to explicitly accept the new Terms before continuing to use the Service
• Minor Changes: We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
• Version History: Previous versions will be archived and available upon request

Your Options:

If you disagree with the modified Terms:

• You may close your account before the changes take effect
• Your continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the new Terms

Severability:

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be replaced with a valid provision that most closely reflects the original intent.

Waiver:

No waiver of any term or condition of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term. Our failure to enforce any right or provision shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

Entire Agreement:

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and FARAWAYHOME OÜ regarding the Service and supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations, warranties, and understandings.

Assignment:

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign or transfer these Terms to any affiliate, successor, or acquirer without restriction.

No Third-Party Beneficiaries:

These Terms do not create any third-party beneficiary rights. Only you and FARAWAYHOME OÜ have rights under these Terms.