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A contractor cannot accept more than 1/3 of the contract price as a deposit and may not accept any payment until the contract is signed. Also be careful about paying for more work than the work that has actually been completed. Small contractors may ask for an "advance" in order to purchase materials.
The contractor estimates how much labor and materials will cost and agrees to complete the job for this price regardless of the actual cost. With this type of proposal, you know exactly what the total cost of the project will be before any work begins.
The contract should describe, in detail, the products to be used and how the work will be performed, i.e., size, color, who will be doing what work, amounts of materials provided, manufacturer model number, etc. There must be a detailed, written payment schedule in the contract.
Asking for more than half of the project cost up front, though, is a big red flag. A reputable and established contractor should have the wherewithal to purchase enough materials to get the job started without relying on your down payment. I recommend tying payments to progress made during the job.
The exact deposit amount contractors ask for upfront varies and is especially dependent on the size of the project. For relatively small jobs, like a $15,000 bathroom remodel, contractors may ask for a 50% deposit. For large jobs, like a $100,000 full-home renovation, a 10%20% deposit is more typical.
A contractor cannot accept more than 1/3 of the contract price as a deposit, and may not accept any payment until the contract is signed. The agreed-upon price of the home improvement contract should be clearly stated. Beyond the initial deposit, the Home Improvement Law does not control the payment schedule.
Asking for more than half of the project cost up front, though, is a big red flag. A reputable and established contractor should have the wherewithal to purchase enough materials to get the job started without relying on your down payment. I recommend tying payments to progress made during the job.
If the work will take a long time, you may not be able to avoid a deposit. Aim to push it down as much as possible, and don't agree to more than 25%. Always get a receipt for a deposit, as well as receipts for any materials it covers.