Like others said you need to keep the payments at least even with the work performed.
Just last year we did a basement for a homeowner. We got half payment at the end of the first day. We piped it, installed cans, phone, & cable. After we finished the rough we still had time and wanted to get some lighting for them. So we pulled most of it, put bulbs is, breakers, temp switches, and trimmed out the unfinished. He added a few things but I figured we would get it in the end. He also deleated something in the basement and got us to replace a 2 story chanderlier in exchange. The whole time he says how happy he is with us and all the other work he needs done.
We could not get a hold of him to finish. I went to his home and he said he had no money to finish (a lie). He was planning on trimming the cans and the devices himself.
That really caught me by surprise but I realized I did 90% of the work and only got paid for half.
I had a payment secdule where the last 5% was for those things that can't be done by final inspection. Light fixtures or A/C units can be a while before they come. But I still have a box ready for it.
Or sometimes we will put up a temp light or a blank for inspection and call it done. Then we charge them again when we have to swap it out because they don't have their light on scedule.
I do like the sound of the $25 change order charge.
Tom
[This message has been edited by Active 1 (edited 04-12-2004).]
