I'm in the middle of a huge outdoor renovation on a quarter-acre property, which includes masonry walls, new sprinklers, a concrete porch, and lighting. I paid a 30% deposit last October and have been covering monthly invoices with the initial deposit for the work done before winter. We've planned to resume the project after the winter shutdown, but now my contractor just asked for another 30% deposit to treat this year's work like a new project. This was unexpected and frustrating since I was counting on invoicing at the end of March as we originally agreed. I'm wondering if it's normal for contractors to request more deposits like this. How should I handle this situation?
3 Answers
If your contract doesn’t specify needing a separate deposit for new work in the following year, you should push back on your contractor. It sounds like he might be struggling financially, but that's not your problem. You should stick to the original terms and refuse to give him more funds if that's not what you agreed on. Just be prepared that he might not be happy about it, and you could lose his services if it comes to that.
This is concerning. It sounds like he's trying to get cash flow sorted by asking for another deposit. If you have already paid for the work done and materials already onsite, it shouldn't be an issue to wait until the end of March as you planned. I'd be hesitant to give more upfront payment unless you're sure it won't affect your project.
Yeah, I agree, this request is definitely not normal. Just stick to the original contract. If your contractor is trying to change the terms on you, it raises a lot of red flags about his financial stability. I would proceed with caution and maybe explore other options if this continues.