Totally agree with setting clear checkpoints upfront. I've seen projects where homeowners skipped milestone checks to speed things up, and it got messy later. Sure, contractors might grumble a bit at first, but once they realize it's just about catching little issues early (instead of big fixes later), most come around. Better to pause briefly and double-check than rip things apart later... learned that the hard way myself on a green roof install.
Setting clear checkpoints is definitely key. Had a project last year where the homeowner initially pushed to skip interim inspections because they wanted the roof done before winter hit. I explained the risks, but they insisted. Sure enough, we discovered a drainage issue halfway through that would've been caught earlier with proper checks. Ended up costing extra time and money to correct. Contractors might seem impatient at first, but most of us appreciate catching problems early—it's less headache for everyone involved.
Had a similar experience when renovating our kitchen. Thought we'd save some hassle by skipping interim checks and paying in larger chunks. Seemed efficient at first, but halfway through, realized the wiring was off—would've caught it earlier if we'd done proper checkpoints. Ended up costing more to redo parts of the drywall and wiring. Now I always insist on clear milestones and smaller payments...lesson learned the hard way.
"Thought we'd save some hassle by skipping interim checks and paying in larger chunks."
Yeah, skipping those checkpoints can seem tempting at first—especially when you're eager to see progress—but it's almost always riskier than it looks. I've inspected plenty of homes where folks tried streamlining payments without clear milestones, and it's shocking how often something critical gets overlooked. Wiring issues are super common because they're hidden behind walls, easily missed until it's too late. Another sneaky one is plumbing; I've seen people have to rip out brand-new cabinets because no one caught a pipe placement error early enough. Smaller payments tied to clear milestones really aren't just about financial control—they're checkpoints for quality control too. Glad you figured it out eventually...even if it was the hard way.
I completely agree with your point about wiring and plumbing—those hidden issues can really sneak up on you. When we started our renovation, we initially thought fewer checkpoints would simplify things, but quickly realized the opposite was true. One thing I'd add is that structural elements can also be problematic if overlooked early. We had a situation where a load-bearing wall was misidentified as non-structural, and it wasn't caught until after drywall went up. Fixing that was costly and set us back weeks.
"Smaller payments tied to clear milestones really aren't just about financial control—they're checkpoints for quality control too."
Exactly this. Breaking payments into smaller increments tied to specific milestones not only helps catch mistakes early but also keeps everyone accountable. It might feel tedious at first, but in the long run, it saves both money and headaches. Glad we're not the only ones who learned this lesson the hard way...
