Ask the Builder: The Fair Way to Pay Contractors

Communication ahead of starting any job is key to avoiding headaches down the road.

You may be about to sign a contract where you'll need somewhere between $300 and $3,000 to pay the contractor. Woe is you if you don’t spell out when and how the contractor gets paid. Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency/TNS

I’m a regular guest on the “Happenings” radio show broadcast on WLIP in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The show is streamed live on WLIP.com. This allows you to benefit from the tips and entertainment no matter where you live. Last week, the hosts, Frank, Kim, and Reanna, asked me about the best way to pay contractors.

A lively discussion ensued, and I tried to shed light on what’s going on inside the heads of both homeowners and contractors. The center of the discussion was debunking why contractors think they deserve a deposit up front before they even show up to do work at your home.