I've got someone doing asbestos testing at my place for $400, but they're asking for full payment upfront. Is it unreasonable for me to suggest paying 50% upfront instead? I find it inconvenient since they only accept cash or check, meaning I'd have to make two trips to settle the bill later.
3 Answers
$400 for asbestos testing isn't too outrageous, and it’s pretty standard for this kind of work to require payment upfront. However, most pros I’ve dealt with would take payment after the job is done. If you feel uncomfortable with the request, you might want to consider other options or negotiate terms you’re comfortable with.
It's common in the industry to ask for materials up front, particularly if they need to order supplies. If this job is mostly labor, definitely push for payment just upon completion. Generally, the max I’d suggest paying upfront is 50% for smaller jobs like this. Going full upfront is risky since you have little recourse if things go south.
Exactly, I never pay in full upfront. My rule of thumb is 50% max, and only if I trust the contractor’s ability to deliver.
In general, it's a bad idea to pay for a job in full before any work is done. You'd be at risk of them taking your money and running. As a rule, I only pay upfront for materials, and that's only when I trust the contractor. For a $400 job, I would definitely suggest pushing for a 50% upfront payment instead, if any at all. Stay safe!
Totally agree! If the contractor is asking for 100% upfront, it's a red flag. Good contractors usually don’t require full payment before starting.
Exactly! You want some leverage to ensure they actually complete the job.
I hear you on that! It's rare for a good contractor to require a payment when the job is small unless there's a lot of material costs.