How We Work
How payments work on our projects
You should know exactly what triggers every payment before you sign. Here is the whole schedule.
A $1,000 deposit — the maximum California law allows on a home improvement contract — followed by milestone draws tied to completed, verifiable work. You never pay ahead of the build.
The schedule
Each draw is tied to a stage you can walk up to and look at. Two of them are tied to an inspection passing, which means a third party has signed off before the money moves.
Deposit — $1,000
The statutory maximum on a California home improvement contract. Not a percentage of your project, and not negotiable upward. See why that number is what it is.
Site set-up
Mobilization, protection of the areas we are not working in, temporary utilities and the start of demolition.
All-trades rough inspection
Framing, electrical, plumbing and mechanical rough-in complete and passed inspection. This is the milestone that matters most — everything behind the walls is verified before anything covers it.
Drywall completion
Insulation inspected, drywall hung, taped and finished.
Project substantially complete
Finishes in, fixtures set, and the punch list walked together. The final draw is released when the work is done and inspections have cleared — not before.
What this structure is protecting you from
| The risk | How the schedule handles it |
|---|---|
| A contractor collects a large deposit and loses interest | There is no large deposit. $1,000 is the legal cap and it is what we take |
| You pay for work behind the wall that was never done properly | The rough draw requires a passed inspection, not our word |
| Costs appear at the end that you never agreed to | Scope changes are written and priced before they are built — see change orders and allowances |
| You run out of leverage before the punch list is finished | The final draw is held until the work is complete and inspected |
| Allowance money gets absorbed | Allowances are billed at actual cost and whatever is not spent comes off your final invoice |
What you get before you sign
- A line-itemed proposal with allowances shown as allowances, not buried
- The full payment schedule, written into the contract
- California-required contract disclosures, included as part of the document
- Daily visibility once work starts — photos, schedule and selections through BuilderTrend, the same view we have
That is your answer. A payment schedule is not a sensitive negotiating position; it is the most basic thing a construction contract does.
Common questions
How much deposit does Elusive Construction take?
When do I make each payment?
Do I pay anything before work starts?
What happens to allowance money I don't spend?
Is the final payment due before or after inspection?
Where to go next
Written by the team at Elusive Construction, a licensed California general contractor (B #1112902) building in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. General information about how residential construction works — not legal advice. For your specific contract, talk to an attorney.
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