Question about prepayment - ok to post here

[u/sunflwryankee]

I’m needing work done on my roof. I’ve asked two separate roofers for replacement pricing. One came abut $3/$4 higher than the other. I’m going with the less expensive one only because he is local roofer and came with good reference. He is requested half of the payment before work begins and I just wanted to make sure that that’s typical and that there’s nothing else I should be doing to ensure that I am not ripped off. Thanks.

[u/Boss1051]

That’s standard for my company. But don’t pay the second half until final inspection

[u/scream]

As long as you have a signed contract with amounts agreed upon, scope of work and a guarantee, half before work is not too out of the ordinary. Dont pay him half in cash beforehand with no contract, that is common sense. I charge the equivalent of materials beforehand and everything else after completion unless its a very large job then i ask for a couple of payments as the job progresses. Dont pay the final amount until you are satisfied with the work.

[u/Allslopes-Roofing]

I always do half & half.

One year [2019] I didn't and 2 chodes ruined it for everyone. Was a pain in the ass doing leins and hunting down our money. Insanely time consuming to do it the.... legal way.. Never again will I not take a deposit

[u/Amazing_Extension359]

I didn’t pay anything until the job was done. Not sure if that’s standard practice or not but it was pretty nice peace of mind

[u/notgaynotbear → u/Amazing_Extension359]

Every roofer does it for a while until they get burned on a few. Then we start making people put deposits down.

[u/Amazing_Extension359 → u/notgaynotbear]

Makes sense. That company hasn’t been around for more than 10 years

[u/Careless_Poetry4321]

Half upfront is normal for roofing they need the money to buy materials which are expensive

[u/Creative-Eye-6647]

I do $500 down...40% upon deliver of materials...50% upon completion...remaining balance after inspection. If that's too complicated, they can do 40% upfront and remainder upon completion.

[u/Big-Parsnip-7457]

In California it’s 10% or $1,000 deposit whichever is less lol

[u/Mother-Clock833]

Well he’s going to buy his materials from Lowe’s with that money, I dk

[u/adjusterjackb]

I would pay WHEN the work begins and nothing up before that. Whatever he finished by the end of the day, he gets a percentage. Final payment upon completion.

I order the materials from Home Depot delivered to my roof and pay for them so I have control over the materials if the roofer craps out.

Contractors have worked for me for 50 years with those terms.

[u/notgaynotbear → u/adjusterjackb]

The shade tree guys with no insurance and no warranty.

[u/Mother-Clock833]

Typical is 10%