[LifesGood]

We recently got a quote for a new laundry from a cabinetmaker which we accepted. There are no drawings, just a written quote for the work, which will probably be happening in a few months time (as part of an overall renovation and extension).

Today we received a deposit invoice for 40% of the quote - around $2000. I was a bit shocked at a) the fact they are asking for a deposit already and b) the amount of the deposit.

I feel like I want to at least see some plans/drawings before I pay a deposit, so that I know what I'm getting for my money. And although now I have re-read the fine print in the quote I can see they do ask for 40% deposit, I think that is a lot to pay when we probably won't see anything for at least 3-4 months.

Is this standard practice in your experience?

[qak]

I feel like I want to at least see some plans/drawings before I pay a deposit

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/About_us...e_deposits.html

I would not have accepted a quote withoout seeing the design that is proposed. What if you don't like what has been quoted for? I assume the quote is detailed in the number, dimensions of cabinets; materials to be used etc?

[LifesGood]

We discussed what we wanted and gave him a hand drawn sketch we had done. The quote doesn't have dimensions in it but refers to the plans supplied.

I probably should just ask him to wait until plans have been drawn up and then to wait until closer to the job to pay the deposit.

That link to the Fair Trading page is interesting, thank you for that. I guess this is a custom built item so he would need a reasonable sum to cover the cost of materials he will be purchasing. I'll make sure I pay by credit card too.

[katpaws]

We had about $20,000 worth of cabinets etc put in before the guy gave us part of the bill. But he was a friend of a friend sort of thing (nothing like the JellyBlush story) so he might have been more casual with us. To be honest he never really submitted any plans to us, he draws them up in his head after DH gives him a concept drawing or we show him pictures of what we want. But he is an ace of a cabinet maker. I don't think i would be paying money down (40%) without knowing what i was getting.

[MrsLexiK]

I see both sides, plenty of people accept quotes trades work around them and then they cancel and the trade is left in the minus because they have either paid for materials, not accepted other work or a combination of both.

[bec4]

We had a cabinetmaker friend do our kitchen and our built in wardrobes. We paid a deposit but I think it was only about 20% and it was about two weeks before the work was to be done. He always gave us a picture of what he was going to do with the quote broken down for us. He did 3D pictures for our kitchen. He asked for a deposit so he could give it to the people who he got the materials from etc.

It did help that he worked for my DH so we knew where to find him if he ran off with our money.


Bec

[Back2Insanity]

We used to always get 30-40% deposit on work. There are a lot of materials that need to be purchased and too frequently people pull out close to fit out time.

[Indi]

When DH was doing residential building work and earthworks he always asked for a deposit. Too many people quibble on the price after the event - you would not believe what some people do to get out of paying someone for an honest day's work. DH will only do commercial work now for that very reason. As PPs have mentioned, the tradie usually has to purchase materials for the job long before it will be finished.