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Practical guides for tradespeople and homeowners, to keep every job running smoothly from the first quote to the final payment.

Phone showing the Renofy app resting on a toolbox on site

Why offering escrow payments wins you more jobs

Homeowners don't hire the cheapest quote – they hire the tradesperson they trust most. Escrow is the strongest trust signal you can put on a quote, and it proves the money is there before you start.

Luke Nixon · · 5 min read
Tradesperson on site with a tool belt of hand tools

Stop chasing invoices: how to get paid the day you finish

Late payments and invoice chasing drain a trade business. Escrow puts the customer's money in place before you start and pays out as each stage of work is approved.

Luke Nixon · · 5 min read
Tradesperson plastering a ceiling during a home renovation

The safest way to pay for a renovation in the UK

How to pay a builder safely: cash, bank transfer, card and escrow compared – what actually protects your money, and how to keep it safe until the work is done.

Luke Nixon · · 6 min read
Person paying for building work online with a bank card

What is payment escrow?

Payment escrow means a neutral third party holds the money and releases it as work completes. How it works in the UK, who holds the funds, and how the money is protected.

Luke Nixon · · 5 min read
Tradesperson and customer settling a payment with terms agreed up front

What payment terms should a tradesperson use?

What payment terms should a builder or tradesman use? A plain guide for tradespeople: deposit, stage payments tied to completed work, final balance, due dates, and chasing late payment.

Luke Nixon · · 7 min read
Homeowner and builder reviewing a written agreement before work starts

Do you need a contract with a builder?

Do you need a written contract with a builder? Not legally – but you already have one the moment you say go-ahead. A homeowner's guide to hiring any builder, tradesperson or tradesman: what the law gives you, what to include, and your 14-day right to cancel.

Luke Nixon · · 7 min read
Tradesperson and homeowner agreeing a deposit and payment schedule for a job

How much deposit should a tradesperson ask for?

How much deposit should you take on a job? A plain guide for tradespeople: when to ask, how much is fair, how big jobs work in stages, and how to do it properly – backed by FMB, CPA and Citizens Advice guidance.

Luke Nixon · · 10 min read
Homeowner paying a deposit by card on a laptop, card in hand

How much deposit should you pay a tradesperson?

Asked for a deposit before work starts? A plain guide for homeowners: whether it's normal, how much to pay, what's a red flag, how to pay safely, and whether you can get it back – backed by FMB, Citizens Advice and CMA guidance.

Luke Nixon · · 8 min read
Tradesperson and homeowner talking in a kitchen, agreeing how the job will run

How to introduce Renofy to your customer

The easiest way to introduce Renofy to a customer is to barely introduce it at all – you send a quote that looks the part, they accept it in a tap, and it grows into one shared record of the whole job. Here's how it works on the ground.

Luke Nixon · · 6 min read
Tradesperson reviewing a written job agreement with a customer

Why you should create a contract with a customer

Every tradesperson should agree a written contract before starting work. Learn why contracts matter, the types you can use, and how to create one without paperwork.

Jacob Bloodworth · · 4 min read