How to get paid on time as a tradie: what works on Builderscrack

Send your quote through BC. It keeps everything in one thread, creates a written record of what’s been agreed, and protects you if anything is questioned later. The homeowner can accept, query, or decline directly in the thread, and the accepted price is recorded on the job. For conversations that take place over the phone, via text or in person, be sure to record the agreed cost through BC.

If you’re breaking a bigger job into stages, state it in the same quote:

• A deposit
• A progress payment(s)
• A final payment

It still sits in that same written thread, so both sides can see exactly what was agreed and when each amount is due.

For residential building work valued at $30,000 or more including GST, a written contract is a legal requirement in NZ. If your job sits in that range, make sure you have one in place before work starts. Even if it’s less than that figure, it’s still good practice to ensure you have written contracts and processes in place to record what has been agreed.