I hear you on the payment headaches. I’ve had folks drag their feet for weeks, even after seeing every receipt and progress photo under the sun. Funny thing is, the ones who pay fast are usually the ones I expect to be slow, and vice versa. Had a guy once who insisted on paying in cash—showed up with bills in a brown paper bag. Made me feel like I was in a bad movie.
Honestly, I’d rather chase down a late payment than deal with a surprise knob-and-tube wiring discovery mid-inspection. At least with money, you know what you’re dealing with... old houses always have a new trick up their sleeve.
Yeah, chasing payments is a headache, but I actually dread the hidden stuff more. Last year, I thought I was just fixing plaster—turned out half the wall was old newspapers and horsehair. At least late payments don’t require a hazmat suit… usually.
That’s wild—never thought about what could be hiding behind old walls. I’m just starting out and honestly, the payment delays stress me way more than the reno surprises. Did you end up having to gut the whole wall, or just patch it up? Wondering if it’s ever worth opening things up “just in case” or if that’s asking for trouble.