Ken Grayling

Fri 01 Nov 2013 07:53am

If the contractor has to purchase materials that are specific to the job, that cost a significant amount and has to pay for them upfront then it is normal practice to charge the client in turn.

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Alan Brown

Thu 31 Oct 2013 11:18am

Hi June, Do not pay up front for any thing.Til work starts, The you won't to so a work plan. ie, the start date plus the works schedule. That is a plan of work.If you see that and you think its ok .You should get another Contractor to look at your schedule.Hope this will help you.Regards Alan

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Karl Ginifer

Thu 31 Oct 2013 03:49am

depending on works there may be an initial lay out for materials dependant on job if you are uncomfortable with it sort out payments that you are comfortable with

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Sergejs Leonovs

Tue 12 Nov 2013 09:45am

This is not normal. I advise you, but also the presence of some of the recommendations do not provide an advance. Every self-respecting craftsman must have a working amount of money. When I estimate the cost of the material, it is always warn my customers that prices for materials are overestimated by 10%, flexible and is not final. If the customer agrees, I'm on my own money to buy stuff, and delivered to the customer. The customer sees a receipt, how many and for what kind of stuff he pays the money. About shipping - many suppliers of materials practiced free shipping. If you accurately calculate the amount of material - craftsman will have no extra costs. Perhaps many will disagree with me, but I'm working on such a system with its customers.

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Michael Gardner

Thu 31 Oct 2013 05:02pm

Never give money up front golden rule , offer half at the half way point . There would plenty of tradesmen out there that would do the job with out money up front , say you give this firm the money up front there treat your job like they would turn up when they liked because you have already paid them . regards Mick

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Fenton McLaughlin

Thu 31 Oct 2013 04:09pm

If it's to pay for materials then it's a fear request. Trust is very important.

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Michael Tucker

Tue 31 Dec 2013 06:18pm

Hello Jane, Welcome to the site. I strongly suggest you hand no monies over at all till the job is finished. Best to get an on site survey/quotation done, this is a free service to you and you will get 3 quotes. Simply post your job onto rated people's site. You are not obliged to go with any of the quotes- but every job that's posted is paid for by the relevant tradesmen .if they contact you that means they are interested in your job. If one of them are awarded the job then great news for you both. ratedpeople.com Regards Michael

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Andrew Smith

Mon 11 Nov 2013 09:32pm

Hi Jane, good competent tradesman should'nt need anything upfront unless the materials are expensive, if so ask where the materials are sourced and pay for them directly and delivered to you. If the work is for a number of weeks you should agree a weekly payment before work commences but pay only if the work is satisfactory. If you are unhappy at any stage or would like to know what, why they are doing something,ask , they should be happy to explain. Andy

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Robert Glen

Thu 31 Oct 2013 05:05pm

depending on the job and the cost outlay, personally I think its a trifle high I work with no upfront monies but that's me after a couple of weeks will ask for an advance its only to gain trust for my clients. Robert glen ratedpeople.

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Stuart Aitken

Thu 31 Oct 2013 08:56am

Hi jane, Tradesman quite often ask for money upfront for materials. Without knowing the full details 40% does sound a little excessive. What I do sometimes on large jobs is ask for a deposit for materials, I would then leave materials on the job so that if anything was to happen the customer would not be out of pocket as they had the materials. I would then take more money on completion of various aspects of the job ie I would take payment for completed bedroom while working on another room. As I said all tradesman are different. Hope this helps. Stuart Aitken Get it plastered ltd

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Phillip Vorster

Thu 31 Oct 2013 06:49am

I would not do that, the deposit if required should equal the material content required for the job only and this should not be 40%

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Rafal Kaczynski

Thu 31 Oct 2013 06:36am

Dear Jane Some of tradesmans ask customers to be pay up front if they quoted price with materials. 40 % it is a lot but you can ask to issue an invoice for a money which you are going to spent. Do not deal with cash in hand if you do not know tradesman always ask for a proof of receiving money by him and what this amount is going to cover etc. I hope this will help Best regards Rafal Plumbing and heating solutions

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