They get chunks of money each step of the way, wanting money prior to beginning each step. So bulk of money is already paid before ground broken, then more before the walls will go up, etc. The last 2000.00 is to be paid at 'Final' inspection. 'Final' is not what you would assume. They have several 'final' inspections before the work is really 'done'. This is laid out in the contract which we signed, but was not really clear to us. Had it been clear, I would not have agreed to payment arrangements. I think after the down payment, half at start of work, and half at completion would be fair.
The original delays were blamed on their engineers having to complete the drawings (4 weeks!) blah, blah, then getting those drawings to township inspectors. I know our township turned it around quickly, but they then blamed delay on not getting permits approved. I called the township office and found that permits were approved, but then BetterLiving said, oh no, we have to have them delivered in hand before we can schedule the work to begin. If I had known that would be another two week delay, I would have picked up the permit and driven it to them myself! Then it was another two weeks before the crew is ready to schedule. There is a crew for breaking ground and creating the platform. Then another crew for roof and walls. Then another separate crew for the electric. Each crew has to be 'scheduled' each time... read 'delay'.
Once the work finally began, the workers were good, cleaned up after, nice decent work. But things were different than the salesman had told us. We chose that company for their 'new' technology of helical piers, so no foundations need to be dug, no mess, no destruction of existing gardens, etc. When it came time, oh, no, we can't do helical piers for your installation. So they dug footings for six large pressure treated posts. The salesman had told us the subfloor comes from factory, insulation all encapsulated within pre made structure, so no mice, moisture, etc. A big selling point for us. But, (again) sorry, no, we can't use that for your installation, too low to the ground. The salesman had seen that this was not an elevated addition. He intentionally misled us for the sale. The phone number on his card goes through the company switchboard and there is no way to ever talk to him again. They won't put you through. He also promised us a higher pitch to the roof which was a deal breaker for me which I told him. Somehow it was not drawn up with the proper roof pitch. You only see the sales rep drawing, you do not get to see the engineering drawings until they actually come to build it. and when I noticed during construction, it was 'too late' to go back and re-do with the proper pitch. They do not honor what their company representative promises.
Make sure to get every detail written on the contract, write it in yourself! I noticed after-the-fact that all dimensions were included on the salesman's drawing except the height from floor to ridge. Accidental? No, I think not.
I feel we paid too much for what is essentially a pressure-treated deck with the aluminum glass structure on top. But, it seems to be built well, and serves the purpose we envisioned.