By Bricolat editorial team
Security and payment: our tips on Bricolat
Handling payment to a tradesperson correctly protects both your budget and your project. This guide sums up the good practices to follow: a reasonable deposit, a written quote, and traceable exchanges from start to finish.
Your Bricolat account secures your exchanges from sign-up
To publish a request, Bricolat asks you to create an account with your name, email, phone number, and a password. This account centralizes your quotes and messages, and avoids sharing your contact details elsewhere before you’re ready.
A reasonable deposit, never full payment upfront
A deposit of up to 30% is common practice to cover material purchases. Be wary of a tradesperson who asks for 100% of the amount before even starting the work.
Always insist on a written quote
A verbal agreement leaves too much room for misunderstanding. Ask for a written quote, even a simple one, detailing the price, timeline, and what’s included, before paying any deposit.
Use messaging to keep a record
Using Bricolat’s built-in messaging to discuss the quote, timeline, and changes keeps a useful written history in case of disagreement.
Only pay the balance after the work is approved
The final payment should only happen once you’ve verified that the work matches what was agreed, and not before.
Stay cautious even with a verified tradesperson
The verified badge confirms the tradesperson’s identity, but good payment practices remain useful with everyone, verified or not.
Frequently asked questions
What deposit is reasonable for a job?
A deposit of up to 30% of the total amount is common practice. Beyond that, stay cautious, especially without a written quote.
Should I always ask for a written quote?
Yes, even for a small job. A written quote avoids misunderstandings about price, timeline, and what’s included.
Why use messaging instead of the phone?
Messaging keeps a written record of your exchanges, which can be useful in case of disagreement about what was agreed.
When should I pay the remaining balance?
Only after verifying that the work is finished and matches what was planned in the quote.
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