That “miscellaneous” line item always gets me too—last time I had siding work done, they tacked on a “site prep” fee for literally moving a couple lawn chairs. I’ve found net 30 works better for me, especially after a hailstorm. If you pay up front, suddenly the crew’s on another job and you’re stuck staring at tarps for weeks. I get needing material money, but I want to see some nails in wood before I shell out the rest.
That “miscellaneous” stuff drives me nuts too. Last year, I had a “debris removal” charge for like, two bags of leaves. I get why some folks want a deposit—materials aren’t cheap—but paying everything up front just feels risky. Net 30 seems fairer, especially after storms when everyone’s slammed and crews bounce around. I’d rather see some progress before handing over the rest, even if it means a little back-and-forth on paperwork.
Net 30 seems fairer, especially after storms when everyone’s slammed and crews bounce around.
I’m with you there. I had a contractor ask for 100% up front for a small siding repair—no way was I comfortable with that. Net 30 gives both sides some security. I don’t mind a deposit, but paying everything before seeing any work just doesn’t sit right, especially when “miscellaneous” fees pop up out of nowhere.
Net 30 just feels safer, especially for smaller jobs. When I bought my place last year, I had to get some fascia boards replaced after a windstorm. The first quote I got was from a guy who wanted full payment before even showing up. That just set off too many red flags for me. I get that contractors want to protect themselves from non-payment, but as a homeowner, there’s risk on our side too—like shoddy work or, worse, someone ghosting after getting paid.
I’m okay with a deposit—seems fair since they have to buy materials and block out time. But 100% upfront? Nah. What happens if they find “unexpected damage” halfway through and suddenly the price jumps? Or if they’re juggling too many jobs after a storm and keep pushing your project out? At least with Net 30, you’ve got some leverage if things go sideways.
One thing I’m still trying to figure out is what’s actually standard in the industry. Is Net 30 more common with bigger companies, or is it just something you can negotiate? I’ve seen some contractors ask for 50% up front, then the rest on completion, which seems like a decent compromise. But then you hear horror stories about people paying deposits and never seeing the contractor again.
I wonder if there’s a way to protect both sides—like using escrow, or maybe putting the payment on a credit card so you have some recourse if things go wrong. Anyone ever tried that? I’m still learning the ropes here, but I’d rather be cautious than end up out a few grand for a half-finished job.
- I always push for the 50/50 split—half up front, half when it’s done. That way, I’m not out too much if things go sideways, but the contractor isn’t left hanging either.
- Used a credit card once for a fence job. The guy didn’t love it (fees, I guess), but it gave me peace of mind.
- Never tried escrow for home repairs... seems like overkill unless it’s a huge project?
- Curious if anyone’s actually had luck negotiating Net 30 with smaller outfits. Around here (midwest), most folks seem to want at least some cash before they start swinging hammers.
