I structure payments about the same way as cm does. On jobs that are mostly labor (demo work) I usually take 1/2 half way through and 1/2 at end. I have had a couple clients ask to buy materials themselves to get credit card points, which I work the same as above. The only jobs I take full payment at the end are my commercial clients, who pay net thirty days, On a residential job "no pay till end of project" means no work with client. The only time I have had threaten client with a lien for non payment (full amount at end) was a minister and his wife, so much for trusting people. Bob, if the contractor does not make you feel comfortable enough to ask these questions then your intuition is telling you something


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.

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

After being ripped off by a contractor on a custom built home, I would
require a hold back subject to final approval of the work, with a back stop
date by which the open issues have to be reworked. Ie, no full payment until
what is promised is what is delivered.

On the flip side, if you as a contractor are so unsure of your work that you
will not guarantee performance via hold back, then maybe you should not be
in the business..



"srazor" wrote in message
...
I structure payments about the same way as cm does. On jobs that are
mostly labor (demo work) I usually take 1/2 half way through and 1/2 at
end. I have had a couple clients ask to buy materials themselves to get
credit card points, which I work the same as above. The only jobs I take
full payment at the end are my commercial clients, who pay net thirty days,
On a residential job "no pay till end of project" means no work with
client. The only time I have had threaten client with a lien for non
payment (full amount at end) was a minister and his wife, so much for
trusting people. Bob, if the contractor does not make you feel comfortable
enough to ask these questions then your intuition is telling you something


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.

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

Chris,

Good points. We never ask for the final draw until our customers are
satisfied.

cm


"Chris Carruth" wrote in message
m...
After being ripped off by a contractor on a custom built home, I would
require a hold back subject to final approval of the work, with a back
stop date by which the open issues have to be reworked. Ie, no full
payment until what is promised is what is delivered.

On the flip side, if you as a contractor are so unsure of your work that
you will not guarantee performance via hold back, then maybe you should
not be in the business..



"srazor" wrote in message
...
I structure payments about the same way as cm does. On jobs that are
mostly labor (demo work) I usually take 1/2 half way through and 1/2 at
end. I have had a couple clients ask to buy materials themselves to get
credit card points, which I work the same as above. The only jobs I take
full payment at the end are my commercial clients, who pay net thirty
days, On a residential job "no pay till end of project" means no work with
client. The only time I have had threaten client with a lien for non
payment (full amount at end) was a minister and his wife, so much for
trusting people. Bob, if the contractor does not make you feel
comfortable enough to ask these questions then your intuition is telling
you something


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.

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