Contractor bid guide

Contractor Deposits and Payment Schedules: What to Compare

Payment structure affects your exposure during a project even when two bids have the same total price.

Convert percentages into dollars

A percentage can feel abstract. Calculate the actual dollars due at deposit, material order, start, midpoint, substantial completion, and final closeout.

Tie progress payments to understandable milestones

Milestones should be clear enough that both sides can recognize when they are reached. Local laws and practices vary, so verify requirements that apply to your project.

Preserve meaningful closeout leverage

Understand what remains unpaid near punch list, inspections, documentation, and final completion instead of discovering late that almost the entire contract has already been paid.

Use the decision as the starting baseline

When you choose a contractor, preserve the accepted scope, price, allowances, and payment milestones. CheckMyBids is the pre-hire side of the workflow; CheckMyRemodel is where the awarded project continues when changes and payments start.

Compare your own bids.

Use a free CheckMyBids tool or start a Bid Snapshot before you sign.

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