Oh and NEVER agree to the term �not at risk�

no legitimate contractor
needs $
up front

that was my thoughts too... but how do you know if they are legitimate or not?
You go off of hear say? I read reviews..... ????

But the experience is totally different when it comes to do the job for you...

well
if they ask for $
thats an immediate flag

i don't know how you would vet them
go look at their work i guess
sorry that happened

never pay for anything upfront from a contractor

I hope you still have all the material you paid for though

I�d settle for payment upon completion instead of waiting 2-3-4 weeks for payment. Got to wait 10 days for insurance to release the check. Then mortgage company has to endorse and make you jump through their hoops. Then the customers bank puts a hold on the draft.
Sucks for some contractors too...

Man, I�m not real big on that public shaming, but I wouldn�t give a good reference if asked. I don�t know what kind of deal you made, but I would get my money back and move on.

yep
sometimes longer

Been here almost a year and haven�t found a contractor yet to work with

I would think it would depend on the complexity and amount of the job. Most contractors including us have payment schedules that we use dependent upon the amount and complexity and length of job. You don�t stay in business long by taking people�s money and not doing the work. A little due diligence goes a long way in finding reputable contractors. I don�t think it�s unreasonable to ask for 20% upfront and then the rest due upon completion or some other arrangement dependent again upon complexity and length of project. If you have 120 to 160 jobs going on at any given time it could be hard to manage cash flow if you carry every job. Anyone who asks for all of it upfront then yes that would raise a red flag and I�ve personally been burned on that type of deal from someone on TFF no less. I�m very sensitive to those concerns from my own experiences but if it�s someone reputable then you won�t have any problems.

I highly recommend having a Liquidated Damage clause in the contract per phase and final completion date. Basically it cost the contractor every day over estimated time lines agreed upon at execution of said contract. Bad weather and material shortages would be discretionary for the contractor to ask for reasonable time back due to those circumstances. That will separate the doers and the fake it till you make it riff raff pretty quick.

No money up front if they don't have the money for the material you probably don't need to work with them

nothing like motivating people to do a half-assed job...

When we built our house we bought the materials, paid the crews 50% when halfway done, remainder on approved completion. Worked great for all of us and we didn�t have any complaints. We used reputable crews that we have used before on pop�s commercial properties.