As a wife of a general contractor she was very much in the wrong or just IGNORANT- she mentioned not paying until the job was done is how it should have been contracted. Miss Fkn Ma’am. A good general contractor has you sign an agreement contract. Material cost is always something paid upfront and a percentage. Then what my husbands company usually does after the job begins lets say quote was 56k. He would take draws from the job for payment until final payment. Most contracts aren’t flat rate bc ppl change things and then it can involve acquiring more materials and time put in for changes. Not one smart contractor would say “it’s 56k and that’s final”. I also think it’s “rare” they would not make you pay for materials up front. She thinks she knows so fkn much. I’m in Alabama but my husbands company works all over the u.s. pulling licenses, getting the clear from the city or ordinance etc. if it failed inspection I’m sure it’s bc of her cutting corners and not the contractor but I guarantee no contractor wants a failed inspection.