"paid in chunks, and towards the end, things slowed waaay down."
Yeah, I've definitely noticed this too. Seems like once contractors have most of the payment, urgency can drop off a bit. One thing that's worked for me is tying payments to specific milestones rather than just time or general progress. Like, final chunk only after the punch list is fully checked off. Have you tried structuring payments around clear deliverables instead? Curious if that might help keep motivation steadier...
Yeah, milestone payments def help, but honestly, even then things can get sluggish near the end. Maybe it's just human nature—like when I leave that last bit of landscaping unfinished for months (sorry neighbors...). Ever tried adding small incentives for early completion?
Milestone payments are decent, but honestly, incentives for early completion can backfire. Had a contractor rush through the last bit of my kitchen remodel to snag a bonus, and I ended up with sloppy grout work and uneven cabinets. I'd rather things slow down a bit at the end if it means getting the details right. Maybe patience is underrated...
I get what you're saying about patience. Had a similar experience last summer when we were doing a roof replacement. The homeowner offered a bonus if we finished ahead of schedule, and at first, everyone was pumped. But then I noticed some of the guys cutting corners—literally skipping steps on flashing and rushing through shingle alignment. I had to step in and slow things down, reminding them that callbacks for leaks would cost way more than any bonus we'd get.
Milestone payments can be helpful, though, especially on bigger jobs. They keep everyone motivated and make sure contractors aren't left hanging financially. Maybe the trick is structuring them differently? Like instead of rewarding speed, tie milestones to quality checks or inspections passing smoothly. That way, you're incentivizing good work rather than just fast work.
I see your point about tying milestones to quality checks, but honestly, inspections aren't foolproof either. Had a bathroom remodel last year where everything passed inspection, yet two months later I found water pooling behind the tiles—total nightmare. Maybe milestone payments should be smaller and more frequent? That way you're not risking too much cash upfront and can catch issues early... inspections alone don't always cut it, unfortunately.
