Welcome to the Unlikely Professionals portal. This guide covers everything you need to know as a Scheduler — the primary client-side role responsible for submitting projects and managing inspections for your branch.
What Unlikely Professionals Does
Unlikely Professionals (UP) performs building code compliance inspections across Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia, primarily focused on structural foundation and water management systems. When a builder constructs or renovates a home, local building codes require third-party verification that the structure meets foundation, waterproofing, drainage, and structural integrity standards. UP inspects the work, certifies compliance, and delivers the certification paperwork the builder needs to close permits.
Your Role: Scheduler
As a Scheduler (scheduler), you are the bridge between the builder and UP. You are the person who gets inspections into the system and keeps the schedule running. Here is what that means practically:
- Submitter: You enter new projects into the system via the Intake wizard. This is your primary function.
- Scheduler: You manage your branch’s inspection calendar — viewing upcoming inspections, requesting schedule changes, and coordinating timing with builders.
- Communicator: You respond to RFIs (Requests for Information) when UP needs additional details about a project, and you create RFIs when you need information from UP.
- Monitor: You track the status of your branch’s projects from submission through delivery.
What You Do Not Do
It is equally important to understand the boundaries of your role. The following are handled by UP’s internal team:
- Review or return intake submissions (Admin does this)
- Review schedule change requests (Admin/Owner does this)
- Access the Work Pool or Review Queue
- Draft or send certifications or invoices
- Access the Drafting Queue, Reporting, or Admin functions
The Big Picture
Every project follows this path. The green boxes show where you are directly involved:
How to Log In
- Navigate to
unlikely.worksin your web browser. - Enter the username and password provided to you by UP.
- You will land on your Dashboard.
unlikely.works for quick access. This is the only URL you need.
Your Dashboard
The Dashboard is your home screen. It shows everything you need to act on right now, scoped to your branch. It is divided into four sections:
| Section | What It Shows | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| This Week | Inspections scheduled this week for your branch | Review for accuracy. If anything needs to change, submit a schedule change request. |
| Schedule Changes | Your pending schedule change requests and their status | Check if any have been approved, not approved, or need more info. |
| Agent RFIs | Requests for information from UP that need your response | Respond promptly. Unanswered RFIs delay your projects. |
| Recent Projects | Recently submitted or updated projects for your branch | Monitor status changes. Check for non-approvals that need resubmission. |
Sidebar Navigation
The left sidebar gives you access to all portal pages. Here is what each section contains:
| Menu | Sub-Item | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Work | Intake | Submit new projects (your primary task) |
| Calendar | View and manage inspections for your branch | |
| Schedule Changes | Request reschedules, cancellations, holds, or additions | |
| Projects | Projects | Browse all your branch’s projects |
| Holding Pool | Projects on hold (awaiting info, weather delay, etc.) | |
| Desk Review | Projects in desk review status | |
| Communication | RFIs | View and respond to RFIs |
| Escalations | View and manage escalations |
A productive day follows this pattern. The order matters — handle time-sensitive items first, then move to submissions and monitoring.
Priority Order
- Agent RFIs — These are blocking your projects. Respond first.
- Not Approved submissions — Fix and resubmit before submitting new ones.
- Schedule verification — Confirm this week’s inspections are correct.
- New project submissions — Enter today’s batch of new projects.
- Schedule change requests — Reschedules, cancellations, holds.
- Escalations — Handle any open escalations.
This is your primary function. The Intake wizard is a 5-step process that captures everything UP needs to schedule and perform an inspection. Complete, accurate submissions move faster — incomplete ones get not approved and you have to start over.
The 5-Step Intake Wizard
Your account is pre-selected based on your branch. If your login is associated with multiple accounts, choose the correct one from the dropdown. This determines which branch the project belongs to and affects who can see it.
Enter the full street address of the job site. This is the single most important piece of data in the submission.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Street Address | Yes | Full street address including unit/lot number if applicable |
| City | Yes | City or town name |
| State | Yes | MD, DC, or VA |
| ZIP Code | Yes | 5-digit ZIP |
| Permit Number | No | Strongly recommended. Helps UP cross-reference with the jurisdiction. |
| Lot/Block | No | Include if available — helps with new-construction sites that lack a street number. |
A missing permit number does not just delay acceptance — it prevents the entire project from moving forward. Without a permit number, the system cannot:
- Match the project to jurisdiction records
- Validate the scope of work against the permitted scope
- Generate the certification package for the project
- Issue the invoice
This directly delays the ability to close the permit with the county. An RFI will be issued back to you requesting the permit number, adding days to the timeline. Always include the permit number at intake when you have it.
The SOW defines what UP will inspect. Select one or more products from the list and specify quantities. Each product corresponds to a specific type of inspection.
Common products you will encounter:
| Product | What It Covers | Typical Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| FND (Foundation) | Foundation waterproofing and drainage systems | 1 per structure |
| RTW (Retaining Wall) | Retaining wall drainage and structural compliance | 1 per wall system |
| WTR (Waterproofing) | Below-grade waterproofing membrane inspection | 1 per structure |
| ENC (Encapsulation) | Crawl space encapsulation systems | 1 per crawl space |
| PSI (Post-Tension Inspection) | Post-tension slab/cable systems | 1 per slab |
| UND (Underpinning) | Foundation underpinning systems | Varies (by pier count) |
Upload any supporting documents. The more you provide upfront, the smoother the process. Documents can include:
- Building plans / drawings — Foundation plans, site plans, structural details
- Permits — Building permit, grading permit
- Product specs — Manufacturer specs for waterproofing membranes, drainage systems, etc.
- Photos — Site photos showing current condition
- Previous inspection reports — If this is a re-inspection or follow-up
The final step captures when and how the inspection should happen:
| Field | Options | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Stage | In Production / Post-Production | In Production = work is still underway, inspection during construction. Post-Production = work is complete, final inspection. |
| Review Type | Desk / Field | Desk = document-only review (no site visit). Field = physical on-site inspection required. |
Review your submission carefully, then click Submit. You will see a confirmation screen with the submission details.
What Happens After You Submit
What Makes a Good Submission
| Do | Do Not |
|---|---|
| Include the full, correct street address | Submit with partial or abbreviated addresses |
| Select all applicable SOW products | Create multiple projects for the same address |
| Attach plans and permits if available | Submit without any supporting documents |
| Include the permit number when you have it | Guess at the permit number |
| Double-check the account/branch selection | Submit under the wrong account |
| Add notes if there are special access instructions | Assume the inspector knows the site |
Duplicate Detection & Adding Visits
The system automatically checks for existing projects at the same address or with the same permit number. If a match is found, you will see a Potential Duplicate Detected warning with three options:
| Option | When to Use | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Add Visit to Existing Project | You need to schedule an additional inspection for a project that already exists (e.g., a follow-up visit) | A new site visit is added to the existing project. No duplicate project is created. |
| This Is a New Project | The address match is coincidental — different scope of work, different permit, or a new engagement | Submission proceeds normally. Admins are notified of the potential overlap for review. |
| Contact Scheduler Instead | You are unsure and want to check with someone before proceeding | Blocks the submission. Contact your scheduler or admin to determine the right path. |
The Calendar page shows all scheduled inspections for your branch. It uses a full interactive calendar (FullCalendar) with day, week, and month views.
What You See on the Calendar
- Scheduled inspections for your branch only (other branches are hidden)
- Color-coded by inspection type (FND, RTW, WTR, etc.)
- Click any event to see project details: address, SOW items, status, inspector assigned
Calendar Views
| View | Best For |
|---|---|
| Day | Seeing the detailed schedule for a specific date |
| Week | Planning and verifying the current or upcoming week |
| Month | Getting an overview of how busy a period is |
Using the Calendar Effectively
- Start of day: Check today’s view to see what inspections are happening.
- Start of week: Switch to week view and verify all scheduled inspections are still valid. If a builder has changed their timeline, submit a schedule change immediately.
- Before submitting new projects: Check the calendar density. If a day is already packed, the inspector may not be able to fit another inspection. UP may need to schedule it for a different day.
When an inspection date needs to change, you submit a schedule change request. You cannot change the schedule directly — all changes require Admin or Owner review.
Types of Schedule Changes
| Type | When to Use | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Reschedule | The inspection needs to move to a different date | Admin confirms, calendar updates to the new date |
| Cancel Inspection | A specific inspection visit needs to be cancelled (not the whole project) | Admin confirms, inspection is removed from calendar |
| Add Inspection | An additional inspection visit is needed (e.g., re-inspection after corrections) | Admin confirms, new inspection added to calendar |
| Hold | The project needs to pause temporarily (weather, construction delay, etc.) | Admin confirms, project moves to Holding Pool until released |
| Cancel Project | The entire project should be cancelled | Admin confirms, project status changes to Closed with cancelled flag |
How to Submit a Schedule Change
- Navigate to Daily Work → Schedule Changes (or click on the project and select “Request Change”).
- Select the project from your branch’s project list.
- Choose the change type (Reschedule, Cancel Inspection, Add, Hold).
- For reschedules: select the preferred new date.
- Add a reason for the change (required).
- Submit the request.
Schedule Change Lifecycle
Tracking Your Requests
All your schedule change requests appear on the Schedule Changes page with their current status:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Submitted, waiting for Admin review |
| Approved | Change has been applied |
| Not Approved | Change was not approved — check the reason |
The Projects page is your master list of all projects belonging to your branch. You can search, filter, and view details for any project you have access to. Each project row includes a pipeline indicator — a compact dot-and-line graphic showing exactly where the project sits in its lifecycle (green = completed stages, blue = current stage, grey = upcoming stages, amber = on hold).
Searching for Projects
You can search by any of these fields:
- Address — Street address (partial match works)
- R-Number — The project’s unique identifier (e.g., R-12345)
- Permit number — If one was provided at intake
Filtering by Status
Use the status filter to narrow your view. Here are the statuses you will encounter most often:
| Status | What It Means | Your Action |
|---|---|---|
| Intake | Just submitted, awaiting Admin review | Wait for review. Check for non-approval notifications. |
| Scheduled | Accepted and inspection date set | Verify the date works. Submit schedule change if not. |
| In Progress | Inspection is underway or partially complete (includes multi-visit projects) | No action needed. Inspector is handling it. |
| Field Complete | All inspections done, awaiting Admin review. Any open RFIs or missing items are tracked here. | Check your RFIs — you may need to respond if items are outstanding. |
| Ready for Cert | Inspection passed, certification being prepared | No action needed. Almost done. |
| Certified | Certification issued | No action needed. Cert has been or will be delivered. |
| Invoiced | Cert + invoice sent to your branch | Complete. Check your email for the delivery. |
| Closed | Fully complete, paid, and closed out | No action needed. |
| Flags (can apply to any project regardless of status): | ||
| On Hold | Project paused — visible in Holding Pool (retains current status) | Submit a schedule change to release when ready. |
| Cancelled | Project was cancelled (status set to Closed with cancelled flag) |
No action needed. |
Project Detail View
Click any project to see its full details:
- Address, account, and submission date
- SOW items and quantities
- Current status and status history
- Attached documents
- Inspection dates and results
- Any RFIs or escalations associated with the project
Holding Pool
The Holding Pool shows all of your branch’s projects that are currently on hold. Projects land here when:
- You submitted a “Hold” schedule change request and it was confirmed
- UP placed the project on hold (e.g., waiting for information, weather conditions, site not ready)
- A project was paused due to an unresolved RFI
Each project in the Holding Pool shows the reason it was placed on hold and when it was paused.
Releasing a Project from Hold
- Find the project in the Holding Pool.
- Submit a schedule change request of type “Add Inspection” or “Reschedule” with the new desired date.
- Once confirmed, the project moves back to an active status and appears on the calendar.
Desk Review
The Desk Review page shows projects in your branch that are undergoing a document-only review (no physical site visit). These are projects where the review type was set to “Desk” during intake.
Desk reviews are less common than field inspections. They are typically used for:
- Plan reviews before construction begins
- Follow-up reviews where sufficient photographic evidence exists
- Compliance verification based on submitted documentation
RFIs (Requests for Information) are the formal way to exchange questions between you and UP. There are two types, and the direction of the question determines your role.
Two Types of RFIs
| Type | Direction | Your Role |
|---|---|---|
| Agent RFI | UP → You | Respond. UP is asking you for information about a project. This is time-sensitive. |
| Client RFI | You → UP | Create. You are asking UP a question about a project, process, or requirement. |
Responding to Agent RFIs
When UP sends you an Agent RFI, it appears on your Dashboard under “Agent RFIs” and on the RFIs page. Here is the process:
Uploading Files from an RFI
RFIs can request specific document types. When you open an RFI, the upload interface shows only the fields relevant to what is being requested. You can upload files directly from the RFI — each upload is automatically recorded as part of your response.
| Document Type | Where It Goes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Logs | photos-and-drivelogs/ | CSV, Excel, or text PDF with PSI/torque readings. The system auto-parses pier data and saves structured JSON for the cert pipeline. Scanned/image PDFs are flagged for manual review. |
| Photos | PHOTOS/ | Construction photos requested by the admin team. |
| Plans | PLANS/ | Foundation or structural plans, engineering drawings. |
| Permits | PERMITS/ | Building permits, jurisdiction documents. |
DRIVELOGS/driving_log.json. This data feeds directly into the certification sparkline charts and driving log table — no manual data entry needed.
Day 1: Initial RFI sent
Day 3: First reminder
Day 5: Second reminder
Day 7+: Escalation to your branch manager (GOA)
Do not wait for reminders. Respond as soon as you have the information.
Creating Client RFIs
When you need to ask UP a question, create a Client RFI:
- Navigate to Communication → RFIs.
- Click “New RFI.”
- Select the project this question relates to.
- Type your question clearly and specifically.
- Attach any supporting documents if relevant.
- Submit.
Common Agent RFI Topics
| Topic | What UP Needs | Where to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Missing plans | Foundation or structural plans | Builder or architect |
| Permit number | Building permit number for the jurisdiction | Builder or jurisdiction website |
| Site access | Gate codes, contact on site, access instructions | Builder or site superintendent |
| Product specifications | Manufacturer specs for installed materials | Builder or material supplier |
| Scope clarification | Confirmation of what was actually installed | Builder or site superintendent |
| Photo documentation | Photos of specific conditions at the site | Builder or site superintendent |
Escalations
Escalations are for situations that go beyond a normal RFI — when something is wrong, urgent, or requires management attention. Use the Escalations page under Communication to:
- View escalations related to your branch’s projects
- Respond to escalations raised by UP (similar to responding to an RFI, but higher priority)
- Create an escalation when you need urgent attention on an issue
The 45-day rule is the single most important system rule to understand as a Scheduler. It directly affects your access to projects.
How the 45-Day Clock Works
| Event | Effect on Clock |
|---|---|
| Project submitted (Intake) | Clock starts |
| Project accepted, scheduled, inspected | Clock continues running |
| Project placed on hold | Clock continues running (hold does NOT pause it) |
| RFI sent to you (Agent RFI) | Clock continues running |
| Day 45 reached | Project auto-transfers to Triage |
| Project reaches terminal status before day 45 | Clock stops — no transfer |
What Happens When a Project Transfers to Triage
How to Prevent 45-Day Transfers
- Respond to RFIs immediately. The number one cause of delayed projects is unanswered RFIs. Every day you wait is a day closer to 45.
- Do not leave projects on hold indefinitely. If a project is on hold, the clock is still running. Release it or cancel it.
- Monitor your projects regularly. Check the Projects page weekly for anything that has been sitting too long.
- Submit complete intake data. Incomplete submissions lead to non-approvals, resubmissions, and wasted time on the clock.
- Coordinate with builders early. If the builder is not ready for inspection, either do not submit yet or submit and immediately place on hold (but be aware the clock runs during hold).
Conversations live inside each project, not on a separate page. Open any project, scroll to the Correspondence section, and you will see the full message thread alongside the project’s files, site visits, and certifications.
How It Works
A red dot appears on project rows in the Projects table and on calendar events when there are unread messages for that project. Click through to the project to read and reply. Messages are delivered in real time via WebSocket — no need to refresh the page.
Starting a Conversation
If a project has no conversation yet, type a message in the compose area of the Correspondence section and send. A conversation is auto-created and linked to the project. You can also click + new message to choose a type (general, RFI, or review).
Scheduling Team Inbox
You are part of the Scheduling team. Conversations assigned to your team appear in your shared inbox. When you click into an unassigned conversation and start typing, the system automatically claims it for you — this prevents two people from responding to the same message at the same time (collision detection).
Ask Friday
The ask friday action in the compose bar invokes Friday, the portal’s AI assistant, directly in the thread. As a scheduler, you get Friday’s Staff voice — it can look up project status, check calendar availability, and answer questions about the scheduling workflow. Friday will not expose financial data or internal pricing. Friday’s responses are visible to everyone on the team.
Mobile & PWA
The portal supports “Add to Home Screen” on your phone for an app-like experience. Messages work offline — if you lose connection, your messages queue locally and send automatically when you reconnect. Push notifications are supported if you enable them in your browser.
Notification Preferences
Click the gear icon in the notification panel to configure how you receive alerts. You can choose portal notifications, email fallback (for when you are offline), and Do Not Disturb hours. Notifications consolidate within a 2-minute window so you do not get spammed.
Before logging off, run through this checklist. It takes two minutes and prevents problems from carrying over to the next day.
| # | Check | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | All Agent RFIs responded to? | Dashboard → Agent RFIs |
| 2 | Tomorrow’s inspections verified with builders? | Calendar → Tomorrow |
| 3 | Any not approved submissions resubmitted? | Dashboard → Recent Projects |
| 4 | Schedule change requests submitted for any known changes? | Daily Work → Schedule Changes |
| 5 | Holding Pool reviewed — anything ready to release? | Projects → Holding Pool |
| 6 | No projects approaching 30+ days without resolution? | Projects → Projects (sort by date) |
| 7 | Open escalations addressed? | Communication → Escalations |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Agent RFI | A Request for Information sent by UP to you. You must respond. |
| Branch | Your company’s office or division. All your projects, calendar, and data are scoped to your branch. |
| Cert / Certification | The official compliance certificate issued by UP after a passing inspection. |
| Client RFI | A Request for Information you send to UP. You are asking the question. |
| Desk Review | A document-only review that does not require a physical site visit. |
| ENC | Encapsulation — crawl space encapsulation system inspection. |
| Escalation | A high-priority issue that requires management attention. Limit: 5 per project. |
| Field Inspection | A physical, on-site inspection by UP’s field inspector. |
| FND | Foundation — foundation waterproofing and drainage system inspection. |
| GOA | General Office Admin. Your branch manager on the client side. |
| Holding Pool | Where projects go when placed on hold. The 45-day clock still runs. |
| Intake | The process of submitting a new project to UP via the 5-step wizard. |
| In Production | Stage setting: work is still underway at the site. |
| Post-Production | Stage setting: all work is complete, ready for final inspection. |
| PSI | Post-Tension Inspection — post-tension slab/cable system inspection. |
| R-Number | The unique project identifier assigned by the system (e.g., R-12345). |
| RTW | Retaining Wall — retaining wall drainage and structural compliance inspection. |
| Rush Flag | Auto-applied when a schedule change is submitted with less than 24 hours notice. May trigger fees. |
| Schedule Change | A formal request to modify an inspection date, add/remove an inspection, or hold/cancel a project. |
| SOW | Scope of Work — the list of inspection products and quantities for a project. |
| Triage | UP’s internal team that handles projects older than 45 days. If your project goes to triage, you lose access. |
| Trip Charge | A fee that may apply when an inspector arrives on site but cannot perform the inspection (site not ready, access unavailable, last-minute cancellation). |
| UND | Underpinning — foundation underpinning system inspection. |
| UP | Unlikely Professionals — the inspection company. |
| WTR | Waterproofing — below-grade waterproofing membrane inspection. |
Portal Access
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Portal URL | unlikely.works |
| Your Role | scheduler |
| Scope | Branch-level (you only see your branch’s data) |
What You Can Do
| Action | Where |
|---|---|
| Submit new projects | Daily Work → Intake |
| View inspection calendar | Daily Work → Calendar |
| Request schedule changes | Daily Work → Schedule Changes |
| Cancel a project | Action Center or project detail page |
| Browse your projects | Projects → Projects |
| View projects on hold | Projects → Holding Pool |
| View desk reviews | Projects → Desk Review |
| Respond to Agent RFIs | Communication → RFIs |
| Create Client RFIs | Communication → RFIs |
| Handle escalations | Communication → Escalations |
What You Cannot Do
| Action | Who Does It |
|---|---|
| Review/return intake submissions | Admin (Jacob) |
| Review schedule changes | Admin / Owner |
| Access Work Pool or Review Queue | Admin / Owner |
| Draft or send certifications | Admin (sends directly or queues for Owner review) |
| Draft or send invoices | Admin (sends directly or queues for Owner review) |
| Access Reporting or Admin settings | Owner (Dustin) |
| See other branches’ projects | Each branch sees only its own |
Who to Contact
| Situation | Contact | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Question about a project or inspection | UP Admin (Jacob) | Client RFI via portal |
| Urgent issue or complaint | UP Admin or Owner | Escalation via portal |
| Cannot log in or portal issue | Dustin (Owner) | Email or phone |
| Builder needs information from UP | UP Admin (Jacob) | Client RFI via portal |
| Schedule conflict or change needed | Self-service | Daily Work → Schedule Changes |
| New project to submit | Self-service | Daily Work → Intake |
Key Thresholds
| Threshold | Value | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Triage transfer | 45 days | Project auto-transfers to triage — you lose access |
| Rush flag | < 24 hrs | Schedule change with less than 24hr notice — auto-flagged, may trigger fee |
| RFI escalation | Day 1→3→5→7+ | Automatic reminder cadence for unanswered Agent RFIs |
| Max escalations | 5 per project | Hard limit on escalation count per project |
| Warning zone | 30 days | If a project is at 30 days without resolution, treat as urgent |
Daily Priority Order
- Respond to Agent RFIs
- Fix and resubmit not approved intake submissions
- Verify today’s and tomorrow’s inspection schedule
- Submit new projects via Intake
- Submit schedule change requests
- Handle escalations
- Review Holding Pool for projects ready to release