- Been there, done that, got the IOU.
- I tried the “pay me later” thing once—ended up chasing a guy for months over $40 in paint.
- Now I won’t even pick up a hammer till I’ve seen at least some cash.
- It’s awkward, but honestly, it’s less awkward than explaining to my wife why dinner is ramen again.
- Some folks still try the “forgot my wallet” routine, but at least now it’s not on my dime.
- Not perfect, but my stress level’s dropped a notch... or two.
Gotta say, I get the upfront payment thing, but I’ve found being too rigid can backfire. Sometimes a little trust up front lands me bigger jobs down the line. Not everyone’s out to stiff you… just gotta read the room, I guess.
I hear you, but honestly, I’ve been burned enough times that I just can’t risk it anymore. Early in my career, I let a client delay the deposit because they “seemed trustworthy”—ended up chasing them for months over a few thousand dollars. It’s not that I think everyone’s out to scam me, but when materials and contractors are on the line, I need some kind of commitment. Trust is great, but a signed contract and a deposit mean way less stress later. Maybe it’s just the control freak in me, but I’d rather lose one small job than spend weeks chasing payments.
Man, I totally get where you’re coming from. Early on, I let a client talk me into starting demo before the deposit “because they were in a rush.” Ended up eating the cost of a dumpster and a week’s labor when they ghosted. It’s not about being paranoid—it’s just protecting yourself and your crew. I’d rather have awkward money talks up front than lose sleep over chasing checks later. Doesn’t make you a control freak, just smart.
I’d rather have awkward money talks up front than lose sleep over chasing checks later.
Man, I used to dread those money convos too, but after one job where I spent three days patching drywall and the guy “forgot his checkbook” for a month, I wised up. Now I joke with clients—“You don’t pay the pizza guy after you eat, right?” Gets a laugh but makes the point. Protecting yourself isn’t being difficult... it’s just staying in business.