Consumer Question: Paying 100% Up Front

[foxfirev5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by littleb I would never pay upfront. This company might have the best reviews and a good BBB rating but things happen everyday with companies where they fold or file bankruptcy. Years ago we needed to get our windows replaced before we put our house on the market and our realtor recommended an individual. He would be replacing about 10 windows and he wanted 50% down before he started the job. There was no way I was going to give him 50% down as an individual who did it on the side (he was also very old which was another story). We sat there in the kitchen and I told him I would not pay upfront. He didn't like it. I didn't budge. He replaced the windows and I paid him after the job was completed.

Yes. That's exactly how I would handle it. 30 years experience dealing with subs and it's the only way to guarantee results. It's amazing to me that people who would never touch a junk bond will fork over money for home improvements in blissful ignorance.
They will vet the customer and place a lien at the first sign of trouble but it helps you weed out the con men or women.

[Bamaman]

I'd be more inclined to pay 50% when they start building the cabinets and the balance upon installation.

Cabinet makers are notorious for not delivering on time, and they often have problems delivering the cabinets as the specifications call for.

When we were building my sister's house, we had serious troubles out of a cabinet maker that about had a nervous breakdown over the job. He was good at what he did, but it was more of a job than he'd ever done previously. He held up the completion 3 months +.