GuidesGeneralDeal settlement

Settlement is the phase that turns a winning auction result into a completed engagement. It begins the instant a deal is struck and runs until the lot is finalized, payment is released, and every party can move on with confidence.

This guide walks through each stage: how a deal starts, where the parties coordinate, how invoices and the settlement window work, what an appeal does, and how the scouter finally withdraws.

When a deal starts

A deal begins the moment an agency executes an immediate buy or a scouter accepts a winning bid. At that point the lot moves to the settling status onchain, the open auction stops, and the matched agency and scouter become counterparties for this engagement.

If you are still bidding or weighing an offer, read the Bidding guide first — settlement only starts once a bid is accepted or an immediate buy is executed.

The deal room

Every deal opens a private deal room inside the chats surface, where the acquiring agency, the scouter, the model, and admins coordinate the handover.

  • The acquiring agency can write in its current room while the settlement attempt is active or fulfilled.
  • The scouter and admins can reach every room that has settlement attempts.
  • The matching model can access rooms for lots they signed.
  • Refunded or non-current rooms become read-only history.
Open your deal rooms

Invoices and payment

Inside the deal room, invoices capture the agreed terms and track payment state. The invoice section only shows a no-pending state once at least one invoice exists, so an empty room simply means nothing has been issued yet.

The settlement window

Once a deal starts, a settlement window of about seven days opens. During this window the agency may submit an appeal, and the scouter cannot withdraw the funds yet. The window protects both sides while the engagement is confirmed in practice.

Appeals

If something about the deal does not match what was agreed, the agency can submit an appeal during the settlement window. Admins may review appeal-related information, and the model may be asked to cooperate truthfully with requests for clarifying details.

Finalization and withdrawal

If the settlement window closes without a sustained appeal, the lot is finalized as fulfilled and the scouter's funds become withdrawable according to the smart-contract rules. A finalized deal may later appear on public surfaces only when both organizations allow that visibility.

Related guides

You can manage any active deal directly in the Motherhunt app.