At Beams, we hold onto your build funds and only release them in stages—called milestones—once you’ve confirmed that work is complete. This puts you in control of your money and ensures your builder gets paid fairly for progress made.
Why this matters:
You stay in control – payments are only released when you approve the work
Your builder is fairly paid – payments are tied to clear, visible milestones
Beams handles the admin – so you don’t need to chase invoices or issue payments manually
🖥️ Important: Milestone approvals happen in your project dashboard. This is where you can see what your builder has marked as complete and confirm whether you’re happy for the next payment to go out.
How to approve a milestone
Beams cannot approve milestone payments for you—only you can confirm progress in the dashboard.
When your builder marks a milestone as complete, we’ll notify you—and a new task will appear in your project dashboard. The task will explain what to look for, and give you a simple way to confirm whether the milestone is complete.
Once you click “Confirm” in the dashboard, we’ll release the relevant payment to your builder. Easy as that.
If you’re unsure at any point, just email us at hello@beamsrenovation.com. Photos are always helpful when asking for a second opinion.
Here’s what each stage of the build involves—and what to look for before confirming a milestone in your dashboard.
🔨 Milestone 1: Break ground
Payment released: 10% of your builder’s payment
Dashboard task: “Confirm break ground to release your builder’s first payment”
This marks the official start of your build. Approve this milestone in your dashboard when:
Your builder has been on site
Protective measures are in place (like floor or dust protection)
Initial demolition work has started
🔧 Milestone 2: First fix complete
Payment released: 40% of your builder’s payment
Dashboard task: “Confirm first fix completion to release your builder’s second payment”
This covers structural and behind-the-scenes work. Confirm in your dashboard when:
Messy structural works are complete - walls have been opened up and rebuilt if needed - any boxing, stud walls, or subfloors are in place. There’s no more demolition or exposed structure.
Pipes and wires are in place - you’ll see plumbing and electrical points have been routed through walls or floors. They’re not yet connected to taps, lights or appliances but they’re in the right places.
Walls have been closed up again - open walls have been closed up with plasterboard or similar. The space looks more like a room again, ready for finishes like tiles, flooring, and paint.
🎨 Milestone 3: Practical Completion
Payment released: 30% of your builder’s payment
Dashboard task: “Confirm practical completion to release your builder’s third payment”
The space is now usable and looks mostly finished, though some minor touch-ups (snagging) may remain. Confirm this milestone in your dashboard when:
The room is functional – you can use it as intended, even if some minor, cosmetic work remains
Fixtures and fittings are installed - for example your taps, tiles, lighting, flooring, or cabinets are in place and working as expected
Surfaces are painted, tiled or wallpapered
💡 Now’s a good time to create your snag list with help from your builder or Beams team.
🏁 Milestone 4: Project Sign-Off
Payment released: 20% of your builder’s payment
Dashboard task: “Sign off your project to release your builder’s final payment”
This is the final milestone. Confirm in your dashboard when:
All snagging is complete – no outstanding work remains
The space is clean, clear and presentable – any dust, tools, or leftover materials are gone
You’ve done a final walkthrough and you’re happy with everything
Questions or concerns?
If you’re ever unsure about approving a milestone, get in touch at hello@beamsrenovation.com. The more detail you can include—especially photos—the easier it is for us to help.