When we built our kitchen addition a couple of years ago, we paid the contractor in ten increments with payments due at work milestones. I think we made the first of the ten payments upfront. The total project took about seven months. But that was a really major project.

For a smaller job (in this case, window and door trim and shelving in my walk-in pantry), what is reasonable for a payment schedule? This is a contractor we've used before and he does good work, but we have a slightly prickly relationship. He's a one-man shop and I know that his business is always down in the winter so he's probably tight on cash right now. I've used him before on small projects and always paid him at the completion of the project. I'm guessing that this project will take about four weeks.

How much should I expect to pay upfront? He's wanting a third, but that is a larger initial payment than I really feel comfortable with. Maybe it's okay since he has purchased the materials for the job...I certainly don't expect him to float the cost of materials. I was surprised when he asked for a check today since I've always paid him at the end of projects and he hadn't mentioned any different arrangement before today. I didn't write him a check today. He's not happy.

I want to be reasonable, but I also don't want to be a sucker. Thanks for any insights you have.