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Message
re: Contractor asking for half up front
Posted on 7/20/22 at 12:48 pm to CatfishJohn
Posted on 7/20/22 at 12:48 pm to CatfishJohn
quote:
Contractor asking for half up front
I pushed back and he said he’d leave materials and his equipment behind my backyard gate before I pay half up front.
This is cracking me up. He really wants the business.
sounds like he is just a part timer and not a real contracter so maybe just go with your gut on this but just trust your instincts, if a voice tells you not to do it then listen to it and dont think about trying to save money by talking yourself into staying with this guy.
as mentioned, go with him and you pay for the materials and have him put it all in your back yard, then you pay his labor after the job is done and you have the recipts to return unused materials.
you dont want to come home and see something happening like this picture below
0
Posted on 7/20/22 at 1:56 pm to CatfishJohn
We get a call about once every two weeks from someone complaining that some contractor was paid "half (or all) up front" and hasn't finished the work.
Posted on 7/20/22 at 2:04 pm to CatfishJohn
quote:
I’m very conflicted
20 posts telling you not to do it and you're very conflicted?
Posted on 7/20/22 at 2:09 pm to bayoutiger225
Most contractors aren’t just floating 1 job. I do landscaping on the side. I don’t ask for money up front. Before you know it sometimes, you are financing 15-20k, and that’s just doing it part time. Customers aren’t usually banging doors down to pay you when the job is complete. I’d never ask for 50% down but understand getting something.
Posted on 7/20/22 at 2:14 pm to CatfishJohn
Post his website
Posted on 7/20/22 at 3:20 pm to CatfishJohn
I wouldnt do it.
But if you do, you should order the materials and have them delivered to your site and deduct that from his invoice.
But if you do, you should order the materials and have them delivered to your site and deduct that from his invoice.
Posted on 7/20/22 at 9:12 pm to CatfishJohn
It’s pretty easy to tell who the contractors are and who the homeowners who want the contractor to finance their project are just look at the upvotes and downvotes on each reply.
By the way house people, if you want to build your own place do you have to put up any money upfront, or does the bank, contractor and lumberyard let you wait till the house is move-in ready?
I’ve been a contractor for a lot of years and on some jobs I get maybe a 10% first payment, and progress payments when substantial steps have been completed. That’s if the job is going to take more than a couple weeks. Other jobs I don’t require anything.
By the way house people, if you want to build your own place do you have to put up any money upfront, or does the bank, contractor and lumberyard let you wait till the house is move-in ready?
I’ve been a contractor for a lot of years and on some jobs I get maybe a 10% first payment, and progress payments when substantial steps have been completed. That’s if the job is going to take more than a couple weeks. Other jobs I don’t require anything.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 9:07 am to 9rocket
quote:
It’s pretty easy to tell who the contractors are and who the homeowners who want the contractor to finance their project are just look at the upvotes and downvotes on each reply.
By the way house people, if you want to build your own place do you have to put up any money upfront, or does the bank, contractor and lumberyard let you wait till the house is move-in ready?
It’s a $4K job. He’s not asking the guy to float materials on a new home build without a draw schedule. Hell, you saw many responses that advised the OP to purchase the materials himself and pay the sub’s labor on the back end. I just don’t get your analogy.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 9:35 am to CatfishJohn
This is SOP around here. I use a very successful landscaping company for my outdoor projects. There is no risk with them as they have been around for years, do great work but are not the cheapest. They have a policy for any project over $1k that 50% is paid up front and the rest isn't due until project is completed to owner's satisfaction.
I dont think it is a big deal unless you are dealing with an unknown contractor/company.
I dont think it is a big deal unless you are dealing with an unknown contractor/company.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 10:08 am to keks tadpole
quote:This.
No. Tell him to give you the material list, you'll buy the material and deduct from the quote. It the material ends up being less than the half up front, don't complain, pay him the difference.
Lots of small operators do great work and are entirely reliable but just lack liquidity. Face it, the economy sucks.
This suggestion protects you and gives him a chance to show you what he can do.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 10:53 am to CatfishJohn
We got quotes from 4 different companies for an extended patio in DFW.
All 4 of them requested half up front and half at completion. Didn’t see the issue with it? Is this only an issue in certain places or not selecting quality contractors?
All 4 of them requested half up front and half at completion. Didn’t see the issue with it? Is this only an issue in certain places or not selecting quality contractors?
This post was edited on 7/21/22 at 10:59 am
Posted on 7/21/22 at 11:12 am to pdubya76
Seems fishy. I don’t have much experience with contractors, but when we built our pool, he wouldn’t invoice us until they completed whatever stage I was to be billed for. Paid for dig and excavation after hole was done, gunite after it was shot, decking after they poured the slab, etc.. Very strange he wants half up front and as others have said, you have zero leverage at that point.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 1:21 pm to FLOtiger
quote:
50% upfront isn't the issue. It's the 50% being $2000 that a contractor can't float. I've worked at places that did half & half payments and places that did 30:70 and others that did thirds. All are fine but not for something under 10k
I only do a 10% deposit for jobs this small.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 1:52 pm to GeauxldMember
I’m one of the ones that said for OP to purchase the materials himself, and to watch his work for awhile to see if was satisfactory.
But it chaps my arse to see all these homeowners say pay no deposit, contractors are out to rip you off. Granted, there are a lot of those out there, especially in times of catastrophe. But I, and many on here take pride in honoring our word, and will do everything we can to make the job come out right and that the homeowner is 100% happy.
I brought up the home building to make the point to the “ no deposit at all” people that there are times when a deposit is called for.
But a contractor should not have to finance a homeowners project for him.
But it chaps my arse to see all these homeowners say pay no deposit, contractors are out to rip you off. Granted, there are a lot of those out there, especially in times of catastrophe. But I, and many on here take pride in honoring our word, and will do everything we can to make the job come out right and that the homeowner is 100% happy.
I brought up the home building to make the point to the “ no deposit at all” people that there are times when a deposit is called for.
But a contractor should not have to finance a homeowners project for him.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 1:56 pm to HoLeInOnEr05
I agree with this.
Just as there are unscrupulous contractors, there are unscrupulous homeowners. Most are fine, but there are some that try and beat you out of your money. You can still work for them, but don’t let them get too far ahead of you on the money.
Just as there are unscrupulous contractors, there are unscrupulous homeowners. Most are fine, but there are some that try and beat you out of your money. You can still work for them, but don’t let them get too far ahead of you on the money.
Posted on 7/21/22 at 3:30 pm to 9rocket
There is no way I would pay up front. Never have, never will. I bet it's a scam.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 8:40 am to Cracker
Alright - In game thread.
I got him to bring over all materials and his equipment (fairly nice cement mixer worth $600 at Lowe's) and they are behind my locked gate.
He's starting the work and already got a row of blocks down this morning. Told him I'd give him 50% at the end of the day and he needs to leave equipment here.
The materials and mixer are probably worth about 50% of the job and he's done some work already so I'm ok with it.
ETA:
He's a proud veteran and I met his daughter, that is nurse at a hospital down the street and a sweet lady, and I felt better about his character.
Also, at worst I'll break even financially and have some work done if he never comes back.
I got him to bring over all materials and his equipment (fairly nice cement mixer worth $600 at Lowe's) and they are behind my locked gate.
He's starting the work and already got a row of blocks down this morning. Told him I'd give him 50% at the end of the day and he needs to leave equipment here.
The materials and mixer are probably worth about 50% of the job and he's done some work already so I'm ok with it.
ETA:
He's a proud veteran and I met his daughter, that is nurse at a hospital down the street and a sweet lady, and I felt better about his character.
Also, at worst I'll break even financially and have some work done if he never comes back.
This post was edited on 7/25/22 at 8:50 am
Posted on 7/25/22 at 9:22 am to CatfishJohn
Glad to hear it. Maybe he just needed someone to give him a chance.
Posted on 7/25/22 at 9:54 am to notsince98
quote:
This is SOP around here. I use a very successful landscaping company for my outdoor projects. There is no risk with them as they have been around for years, do great work but are not the cheapest. They have a policy for any project over $1k that 50% is paid up front and the rest isn't due until project is completed to owner's satisfaction.
I dont think it is a big deal unless you are dealing with an unknown contractor/company.
This. We required half down for all of our landscape projects and I work for a pretty big landscape contractor. We never had anyone complain.
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