An agreement should be a freaking AGREEMENT!

[oren]

They might make a deal to shovel snow for a season, take a deposit and when they find the price of the coke habit has gone up they demand more money up front. A local "day labor" office can provide "labor" from ex-cons, etc... and even provide worker's compensation - you pay the office and they pay the labor (a pay as it snows plan).

I agree with the OP... it prolly would be different it a husband or boy friend would of made the deal. Not to say the results would have been any better, though!

Oren

"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes."

[Christian Fox]

I've never had a problem. I'm happy to give another payment as a materials draw, but only AFTER the materials have been delivered.

I'll NEVER give more than 15% as an initial, "hold my spot in line" deposit, and I've never had a problem finding a contractor to agree to those terms.

[Dr. Hardcrab]

I guess we won't be doing any of your work....

[Dave Balderstone]

Paying anyone up front for anything other than materials is foolish.

If someone asks for advance payment for a service, it's a big red flag that they are insolvent. If they are insolvent, there's a good chance that they will never deliver the service.

If you pay up front for materials, pay only on delivery of the materials to your property. You can always get a material list from the person you're hiring and buy them yourself.

If I'm contracting with you, and don't know you, I have to calculate my risk. You need to do the same.

[SteveB]

"Dave Balderstone" wrote

Darn good post. Thanks.

Steve

[TURTLE]

This is Turtle.

What does a Snow Shovel look like ?

TURTLE

[Dr. Hardcrab]

[LJ]

Lesley -- women like you make me cringe.

It doesn't have anything to do with having a husband or boyfriend around. It has to do with the amount of initiative & brains you have.

If I have to pay someone to do something for me - I always get a WRITTEN contract. Duh.

Stop being helpless, and shovel your own snow. Or buy a snowblower. That's what most real grownups do. Especially living in Buffalo, with all that lake-effect snow.

I don't have a husband or boyfriend, and I manage very well. I shovel my own snow, cut my own grass, fix my own plumbing, etc etc. These aren't mystical skills that only men have. Women can learn them too.

Sheesh -- evidence of the dumbing-down of our school system.