Is Paying townplanner in advance normal?

Hi

Just wondering is it normal to pay deposit for preperation of development plans & landscape plans in advance? or only when work is done?
And if so what % of deposit would normally be the go....

 

In my case the only contractor who charged 50% upfront was my building surveyor who is actually a friend from high school days.

 

A lot of professionals are now asking for half upfront. It is a way of mitigating bad debts and delayed payments.

Simply negotiate the point if it is a problem.

 

Yep.
My town planning firm can charge less because
We get
20% to start
80% when ready to lodge

Very little chasing money.

My law firm (for non conveyancing matters) will mostly require between 50% and 100% of the estimated professional fees in our trust account before we start work. I am going to move to upfront all the time (except for conveyancing) without exception.

 

Sometimes a small deposit is required if I don't know the client or "bells ring". But usually not. The "deposit", for a first step investigation and reporting, for me will be between $500 and $1500, depending on the scale of the project. After that all the necessary work is paid and when it's ready to lodge I ask for the fee to be paid in full (including the Council application fee). That system works for me

 

thanks peoples

 

Good thinking incorporating the council fee into your own, something we should consider for our subdivisions.