Paying in chunks as you go - smart move or risky business?

Tried something similar when we redid our kitchen - we linked milestone payments directly to passing city inspections. Worked pretty well, actually... contractor knew he wasn't getting paid until the inspector gave the thumbs-up, so things stayed on track. Worth considering if you're worried about accountability.

Linking payments to inspections is a solid idea - definitely keeps everyone honest. Curious though, did you run into any delays waiting on inspectors? I've seen projects stall because the city was backed up, and the contractor ended up frustrated. But if your city's pretty reliable, then yeah, sounds like you've found a good system. Glad it worked out smoothly for you.

Yeah, inspections can be a mixed bag. When we redid our kitchen, the inspector was great - showed up right on schedule. But my neighbor had a nightmare waiting weeks for electrical approval. So, good idea overall, but definitely depends on your city's efficiency...

I've found paying in stages usually works best, but it's crucial to tie payments to clear milestones. For instance, only pay for the electrical work after the inspection passes - avoids headaches if the city drags its feet. Have you thought about structuring your payments around inspection approvals?

"only pay for the electrical work after the inspection passes - avoids headaches if the city drags its feet."

That's a fair point, but honestly, inspections can sometimes take forever. I've had situations where the contractor did their part perfectly, but the city delayed inspections for weeks. Holding payment that long strained our relationship with the contractor. Now I prefer partial payments at completion of work, with a smaller final amount tied to inspection approval. Keeps everyone motivated without souring relationships...