Payments
Should I pay my builder? A homeowner payment pause check
Money is the point in a project where uncertainty becomes expensive. Most payment problems are not caused by dishonesty; they are caused by payments drifting ahead of the work in place, with no shared record of what has actually been paid for. A short pause and a few specific checks solve almost all of it.
The core principle: pay for work in place
Payment should follow progress, not precede it. Some advance payment for materials is normal on many jobs, but the general position is that you are paying for what has been built, delivered or installed.
If you find yourself materially ahead of the work, that is worth resolving before the next payment rather than after.
Before you release any payment, check
- The stage described in the invoice has genuinely been reached on site.
- The amount matches the agreed payment schedule or an agreed variation.
- Any variations included have been agreed in writing beforehand.
- Materials you are paying for in advance are identified, and ideally on site.
- The invoice is itemised enough for you to follow it.
- You have a record of what has been paid to date and what remains.
Deposits
A deposit is normal for ordering materials and securing a start date. A very large deposit before any work begins is worth questioning, and it is reasonable to ask what specifically the money will be spent on and when.
Where a deposit is significant, ask for it to be tied to something concrete: a materials order, a delivery, or a start date in writing.
Staged payments that actually work
The most useful payment schedules describe stages in plain language that both sides can look at and agree has happened.
- 'Foundations complete and inspected' is checkable.
- '50% on commencement' is not tied to progress at all.
- Tie at least one meaningful payment to the very end of the job.
- Keep a modest final sum outstanding until snagging is resolved.
If something does not add up
Say so early, in writing, and specifically. 'I think this invoice includes the tiling, which has not started yet — can we check?' is a normal project conversation. Silence followed by a sudden refusal to pay is what damages relationships.
Case-style example
A typical example
A homeowner receives a third stage payment request while first-floor works are clearly incomplete. Reading the schedule again, the stage is described as 'first fix complete'. Electrical first fix is done; plumbing first fix is not.
The homeowner pays the proportion covering the completed element, sets out in a short email what is outstanding, and agrees the balance will follow the same week once plumbing first fix is finished. The builder agrees without difficulty; the record now exists for both sides.
How The Construction Clinic helps with this decision
The Construction Clinic helps homeowners read a payment request against their own quote and schedule, spot where money is running ahead of progress, and phrase a query without turning it into a confrontation. We are not a payment service or a contract adjudicator; we help you understand what you are being asked to approve.
Common questions
Questions homeowners ask about this
How much deposit should a builder ask for?
There is no fixed figure, and it varies with the size of job and the materials being ordered up front. What matters more than the percentage is whether the deposit is explained, tied to something specific such as a materials order or start date, and recorded in writing.
Should I ever pay in advance for materials?
Often yes, particularly for bespoke items with long lead times. Ask for the order confirmation or invoice, and where possible arrange for materials to be delivered to site rather than held elsewhere.
What should I do if I have already paid ahead of the work?
Do not panic, and do not simply keep paying. Set out in writing what has been paid and what has been completed, and agree a plan to bring the two back into line before further money is released.
Is it reasonable to hold back a final payment?
Holding a proportionate sum until agreed snagging items are complete is common practice and generally reasonable. Holding a disproportionate amount, or holding it without explaining why, is not.
Should I pay in cash?
Traceable payment leaves both sides with a record, which protects you if anything is later disputed. A payment you cannot evidence is difficult to rely on.
What if the invoice includes work I did not agree to?
Identify the specific line, say so in writing, and ask when and by whom it was agreed. Pay the undisputed balance so the rest of the job is not held up.