Should you fund this invoice?

What you get

A written funding recommendation, five business days from written Start Confirmation: what to pay, what to hold, and the sentence to say when you hold it. The firm does not certify the application; the architect or your contract does that. We tell you whether the numbers match the work. With it:

• Percent complete on every major line, judged on a site walk against the schedule of values.
• Stored materials: what is actually on site or in a bonded warehouse, and what is just a number.
• Retainage math, and whether the release schedule matches the contract.
• Lien waivers: which ones should be in the envelope and are not.
• Change orders billed that were never approved.

What to send

• The pay application and continuation sheet (G702 and G703, or whatever form the contractor uses).
• The contract and schedule of values.
• Last month's pay application, if this is not the first.
• Site access on or near the billing date for the walk.

Every month, or once

One review starts at $1,250. If you want every pay application read before you fund it, the monthly retainer is another option, with hours and site visits agreed in writing. The Pay-App Review Worksheet is the $99 self-serve version, and the free guide shows the method.

When the review starts

The delivery clock starts with a written Start Confirmation after the scope and fee are accepted, payment is received, all required documents and information are confirmed complete, and delivery capacity is confirmed, including the site-walk appointment when the scope includes one. We confirm capacity before requesting payment. The Start Confirmation states the start date and delivery date. Acceptance alone, invoice issuance, and payment alone do not start the clock.

This review is diligence, not legal advice, and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. It organizes the questions you bring to the professionals you hire. Engagement letter on every paid job.