Hey everyone! I'm a first-time homeowner and I'm in a bit of a bind with a contractor. I hired a company to put a window in my bathroom and I've had a ton of communication issues with them since day one. They originally suggested I could skip getting a permit because the job seemed 'too small.' Now they're almost done, with just the trim and drywall finishing left, but they're asking for full payment today. I paid half upfront as a deposit and I told them I'm not comfortable paying in full until the project is actually finished. The contractor called me and berated me for this, saying it was 'bad business' to withhold payment. After some back and forth, I checked the contract, and it does say payment is expected upon 'substantial completion,' but there's no clear definition of that. Plus, there's also a clause stating that I should only pay in full after a final walkthrough with my installer, as well as a consumer protection notice advising against paying upfront in full. Now I'm worried if I'm risking litigation. Is it wrong of me to hold off on payment until the work is completed? They seem unreliable and I want to make sure they don't run off with my money before finishing the job. What do you all think?
5 Answers
Never pay in full until you can inspect the entire project and are happy with how it’s done. A reputable contractor will understand and appreciate that you want to see the work finished before full payment.
You're definitely in the right here! No one should expect full payment until the job is completely finished to your satisfaction. Use that payment as leverage to make sure they come back and complete everything properly. It's great that you’re willing to pay after the final walkthrough—stick to your guns!
Exactly! It's your money, and you have every right to ensure the work is finished before handing it over.
Always wait to pay until you’re satisfied. If they haven’t even started on the finishing touches, it's likely a bigger task than they're letting on. I would also suggest leaving reviews after everything is done to warn others about your experience.
Yeah, don't pay them until everything is 100% done. If you pay in full now, there's a risk they may not come back to finish up. Keep that leverage!
That's what I've been thinking. I feel like it’s standard practice to wait until the job is completely done before paying.
Honestly, if they're being this pushy, it might be time to consider firing them and hiring someone else. But definitely wait until the work is done and up to your standards before paying. If they have a problem with that, it raises more red flags about their reliability.
I know, right? I’m just not sure how I would go about that without it being a contract violation. But I'm getting anxious about their reliability as well.
Thanks! It’s comforting to hear that I’m not being unreasonable for wanting to see the final product before paying.