Hey everyone! I recently had a contractor work on my house, costing around $150k in total. There's still about $10k left to pay, but I'm feeling uneasy about handing that over since the work isn't fully complete, and I'm only about 80% satisfied with everything. While the house looks decent from a distance, I've noticed several issues up close. The contractor is supposed to fix these problems, but I'm thinking it's reasonable to wait for everything to be finished before releasing the final payment. What do you all think?
3 Answers
I hear you! It's smart to hold off on that last payment, especially if you're finding more things that need attention. It seems like the issues you’re facing are pretty significant, from the rotting boards to the bubbling paint. Keep a record of everything, and don’t hesitate to remind the contractor of what needs fixing. If they care about their reputation, they should be willing to settle things.
It's totally fair to hold back the final payment until the work is done to your satisfaction. Final payments are usually issued when everything is complete, so don't feel pressured to pay if there’s still outstanding work. Make it clear to your contractor that you expect everything to be finished before handing over the last bit of cash.
You're definitely not unreasonable. You have every right to wait until your contractor addresses all those issues before paying the last $10k. It's standard to retain payment until you're happy with the results. Just be sure to communicate your expectations clearly with them. Make sure they understand that even small fixes should be done right!