Don't get taken
 

IF YOU ARE GOING TO HIRE A VENDOR (CONTRACTOR has to be licensed ,LANDSCAPER, DRIVEWAY PAVERS ,ETC...IF THEY ASK FOR ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY UP FRONT AND SAY THEY NEED X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO BUY THE SUPPLY'S.....RUN, RUN, RUN...IF THEY DON'T HAVE X AMOUNT TO START THE JOB THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN BUSINESS, OR THEIR ABOUT TO RIP YOU OFF. ONE WAY TO FIND OUT IF THEIR REPUTABLE CALL SENIORS V/S CRIME IN SUMTER ,LAKE,OR MARION COUNTIES THEY WILL TELL YOU IF THERE'S COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE PERSON OR CO. YO'LL SOUTH OF 466 NEWBEEEEES BEWARE,THEY'LL COME KNOCKIN ON OUR DOOR AND UNDER CUT UR LAST BID,THERE'S A REASON FOR NO SOLICITING IN TV, DON'T BE FOOLED BY ONE NEIGHBORS NEW LANDSCAPE,OR DRIVEWAY PAVER'S ,THAT'S HOW THEY GET THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD....CALL SENIORS VS CRIME FIRST !

On your keyboard is a key called "CAPS LOCK", just click it

U can also read Internet etiquette.

Great idea - shoot the messenger - ignore the message! (NOT).

The advice is sound, timely, and relevant: the delivery could use some polish.

I don't blame contractors for asking for money up front it's sound businesses practice.
Many have been burned not doing so.
I would certainly hope one would do there home work before hiring any contractor and have a signed contract for any project .

Who got burned?

name a contractor.

A sound biz practice are you kidding?
read this forum see how many folks here got screwed

Anyone giving money up front is really a fool, an easy mark

Ask anyone who pre paid Stellar for the year and now can't get a refund from Service Smart!

key word here is ''References" get them after first consult......

Did they have a contract?
I was savvy enough not to hire him in the first place

Any contractor not having his materials covered up front is a bigger fool

sure they will give all the best ones, do you think they will give you the ones that were unhappy?


they are not always going to give you what you may think

Any contractor who can't cover their materials is under-capitalized and isn't someone you should hire.

NEVER A PENNY UPFRONT FOR ANYTHING :spoken:

A deposit....
 

Of course a contractor would request a deposit upfront. That goes for anything. Most of the jobs done in The Villages are custom jobs and require custom materials.

A contractor would also require a deposit to assure that after they order the material the buyer doesn't change their minds.

Requesting a deposit isn't just something done in The Villages... Contractors all over the US require deposits.

There is only one contractor that I've hired, in The Villages, who didn't require a deposit and that was Mansfield Landscaping. All others do.

As for Stellar, he did give people the option to pay 100%, but you didn't have to. You could pay as you go as well.

Just do your homework. Get references and check them out with several people.

Have a GREAT day.

I've had many jobs done, from roof to solar to landscape. The reputable ones, don't ask for a penny up front. If they can't afford to buy materials, they are fly by night. Don't fall for the BS. Lots of is flowing.

Any reputable contractor should NOT have to be paid upfront. If a guy is good ,he should have a credit with the suppliers that he uses. If he can't establish credit with a supplier he is not trustworthy . As far as a contractor being burned in the villages , I have not heard of any that were but I have heard of many Villagers being raked over the coals by grass cutting company's , landscapers , driveway painters and pavers , floor tile , ect. When you get a job done don't you usually sign a contract which protects you and the business?

wait a minute you work for Mansfield....you did state that on the forum!

Angies list says avoid contractors looking for $$ up front

see the article

We've never paid a deposit up front on any work we've had done here.

There are many many people who do. For some reason they get sucked into the sales pitch. A lawyer told me something a long time ago.
If they can say it, They can write it. Protect yourself.

deposits
 

I paid a deposit to The Villages before they would build my home, Pikes Electric before they would order my lights, to Nickel Tile before they would order my back splash, Michelle's Hide a Way, the people who put the drawers in under my cabinet and the custom cabinet maker before he built my murphy bed. I had no problem with it and felt pretty secure they were mostly making sure that I had skin in the game before they bought the supplies to do the work.

I don't work for Mansfield Landscaping.. But for the sake of argument... let's say I do.... He still doesn't take any money up front. To my knowledge... he's the only landscaper who doesn't. (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong)

Not true. Jamie's didn't take any $ up front for our landscaping, Brandon didn't take any $ up front for our friends'. This was in 2011 and 2012. Stellar didn't want $ up front for our landscaping (we didn't use him), and neither did one other landscaping co. we got an estimate from, whose name I cannot remember.

We had living and dining room tiled, lanai tiled, front walk bricked, extra lock security work done, and electrical work done in the lanai. We paid up front for none of it.

Thank you for your response, I wasn't sure about the landscapers. I was clearly guessing.

I would never pay up front for any kind of service,I`ve learned my lesson from being burnt before.A quality contractor of any sorts will wait til the job is finished to get paid.If you are forced at least use your credit card that way if something does go wrong you can dispute the charge.I`ve done this before.

jimbo is absolutely right!!