You pay in stages for work that’s done. Citizens Advice suggests a deposit under 25% of the total, and never everything up front.
Deposit
- Paid when
- You agree the job
Stage payments
- Paid when
- Each agreed stage is finished
Final payment
- Paid when
- The job’s done and the small fixes are made
| Stage | Paid when |
|---|---|
| Deposit | You agree the job |
| Stage payments | Each agreed stage is finished |
| Final payment | The job’s done and the small fixes are made |
What would your job cost?
Describe it, and see a typical price for your area. Then ask builders who do this work.
Read next
How we wrote this
Written by Structa. The rules come from the official pages below. General information, not legal advice.
- Citizens Advice: Before you get building work done (checked 6 October 2026)