I know I am probably screwed but need advice

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Phobia

What kind of dumbass will buy thousands of dollars of materials and spend weeks of labor without money up front? That knife cuts both ways.

You have the protection of mechanics liens and court.

Obviously the scale of the job plays a big role, and money up front or draws are necessary at times. But do you really see yourself asking for money up front for either of the two jobs mentioned in this thread? $2500 of lumber or $800 of fencing?

As I said on my previous post in this thread, if the contractor asks for money for materials. Go to the supplier and buy the materials yourself.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by jspchief

You have the protection of mechanics liens and court.

Obviously the scale of the job plays a big role, and money up front or draws are necessary at times. But do you really see yourself asking for money up front for either of the two jobs mentioned in this thread? $2500 of lumber or $800 of fencing?

As I said on my previous post in this thread, if the contractor asks for money for materials. Go to the supplier and buy the materials yourself.

BINGO... Unless they want to put a lien on the title to their truck or boat or whatever...

Originally Posted by jspchief

You have the protection of mechanics liens and court.

Obviously the scale of the job plays a big role, and money up front or draws are necessary at times. But do you really see yourself asking for money up front for either of the two jobs mentioned in this thread? $2500 of lumber or $800 of fencing?

As I said on my previous post in this thread, if the contractor asks for money for materials. Go to the supplier and buy the materials yourself.

I doubt I'd be asking for money up front on an $800, one-day job. But I'd ask for money if I was spending a couple grand on materials and not going to finish the job for a couple weeks. That's fair. If my materials are sitting on a client's job site and either one of us gets hit by a bus, we are both protected if they're paid for and sitting on their property. I make sure my clients are comfortable with the money they've paid out and the progress of their job. If they go nuts and decide they're not paying, I don't want to get hurt and if I go nuts and ditch their job, I don't want them to get hurt either.