Both the client and the builder can often find loop holes when contracts are not in place from the beginning but more often than not it is the builder that doesn't get paid and with cashflow tight it’s more important than ever that you have a legally binding contract in place before you start a project. Problems of payment are often straightforward to resolve when there is a contract to fall back on. Especially when it goes to court!
Easy stage payment- Arrange by build phase, milestones or every x days to eliminate those awkward conversations with customers.