All Forum Posts by: Wendy S.

@Chris Seveney

Sent. Thanks

@Chris Seveney ok can a send you a PM?

@Chris Seveney thanks so are you saying I should pay him 90% upfront before he even submits to the county?

@Bruce Woodruff. Thank you.

Good day, I hope this is posted in the right forum and I can really get some positive and perhaps local feedback.

So company says I need an architect to do the drawing and submit to county to raise a portion of the roof by 2 block height. They have an architect they use but I have to pay for architect upfront along with county fees. We negotiated and I paid 50% deposit along with county fees.

Now they want me to pay balance, upon which architect will submit to county for approval. So I ask what if the county says no, need further modification. They say the architect will address this.

Am I being unreasonable to ask for the drawing to be submitted first, then final payment upon approval from the county?

@Bruce Woodruff. I paid for the materials gave $5,000 down and will now pay upon the completion of other milestones.

Simple, pick up the phone and call your Lender and ask if there is any Lender credit that he/she can offer you. All the best.

@Terrell Garren wow. I only found one that was willing and started the job without requesting a dime but he had too many ongoing projects, not a big enough crew, didn't communicate well in that he would turn up late but just in the nick of time and it was frustrating for me, but no payment issue, so we parted amicably.

All the others request deposit. Even had 1 company ask for deposit then daily pay. I said no.

Actually, what I've found here is the ones that do good work, don't request payment upfront are trying to juggle multiple projects and because they are not paid upfront, it's hard to argue they need to complete timely.

@Alex L. Thanks Alex.

I guess I can't see why $5,000 deposit isn't sufficient and I make another payment at the end of the week when some work was actually done. But $8,000 to $18,000 deposit any work is done is a hard pill to swallow. Even if you had regular guys as employee on the site you should still be able to make payroll.

For eg. the $,8000 is on a whole house paint, remove bathroom cabinets and upgrade, shower walls, and flooring.

So, while I get the need to have the money on hand before, the workmen aren't being paid before they work so why ask so much.

Like I said, maybe I am just venting.

Good day, I know this topic has been discussed numerous times so I may be venting or just tired that contractors believe they should get significant deposits on labor.

For projects under $50,000, with the owner paying for the materials sourced by the contractor, how much is a reasonable deposit on labor for the job to get started?

Contractors have more leverage as they can put a lien against your property for valid work done. So it's a no brainer for the owner to pay them.

What do owners have? The potential of a pyrrhic victory?

Looking at a job for $28,000.

Contractor wants $8,000 deposit for labor.

Another for $38,000 labor only

Labor request deposit $15,000???