There may be some negotiating room, but there is so much work out there we don't need to. I walked away from a job last week were the customer wanted to split the job into 3 payments instead of 2, but was fine with the overall estimate. We have been in the remodeling/home repair business for 18 years and have not had to advertise since the first month we started. It may not be good business, but it works for us. I usually regret the job when I deviate from my normal business practices and pricing structure. Operating this way helps weeds out bad or pain in the ass customers. I also don't have to get a down payment to buy tires for my trucks.

cm


wrote in message oups.com...

cm wrote:
We ask for 1/2 down on jobs over $1000.00 up to $3000.00, after that we
usually take 1/3 at a time. We don't work for guys like Eric in Texas or
people that try to negotiate a lower estimate. No offense Eric but if you
don't trust me don't hire me.


So, you walk away on a $10K job, where the homeowner asks if you'll
come down $300 to meet the competitions price? Doesn't sound like
good business to me, where lots of times there is some negotiating in
situations like this.






cm


"Robert11" wrote in message
. ..
Hello:

Getting a bit ahead of myself here, but in the Spring will be having all
new siding and
windows installed.

What is "typical" as to how the contractor is paid ?

e.g.,

I imagine it's reasonable to pay him the amount for the window costs (but
not labor) early on so he
can purchase the windows beforehand. Right ?

And I guess some kind of additional deposit is also reasonable beforehand.
If so, what approx % of the total price should this be ?

How about the overall payments:
Would splitting it into thirds, perhaps, be typical ?
Such as 1/3 of the est. cost after 1/3 of the work is done, etc. ?

Really don't know how to handle this;
Don't want to be made a fool of, but also want to do what is considered
normal for this.

This would be a contractor who runs his own very small business.
Is some kind of "bond" normal to protect us to make sure that the job is
completed, etc.?
Don't want to scare him off, but If so, what and how ?

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob