Advance payment for the window installment

By the way, I had a similar problem with an electrician who wanted the full amount for the upgrade options I chose (almost 10K) immediately after the rough installation.

Where did you upgrade (with the general contractor or with the electrician), and did you really upgrade (more sockets, nicer switch frames) or rather expand (access points, photovoltaic, satellite system, wallbox, "smart" stuff that is not even included in the scope of services of the construction service description)? If the general contractor says "agree on extra services directly with the craftsmen," then from the craftsman's perspective, this is naturally separate and not according to the payment schedule between you and the general contractor. Usually, general contractors already pressure their subcontractors enough regarding payment terms; they don't want to wait so long for additionally earned money. This is regularly a point of misunderstanding and dispute when general contractors allow side deals between the client and subcontractors.

Yes 11ant, that's true. However, it doesn't always go wrong, but often goes well... And when it goes well, you save a lot of money. I paid 40 EUR gross for an outlet, my neighbor paid 120 through his general contractor. A "safety" that you pay for dearly. That's the expert's perspective... and... you can only mention it cautiously, it's also his job, which he lives off. And of course, the expert also lives off the builders' fear of defects. If that weren't the case, he would work on commission... Just my 2 Cents...

We also paid the additional cost for electrical work directly during the rough installation. It was only €1500 and went straight to the general contractor, who then passed it on to the electrician. However, I had no concerns about this with my general contractor.

In my opinion, it is a different matter whether I pay a trade for additional costs / upsizing, usually directly to the trade itself (e.g. the electrician), which is already working. Or whether I should advance payment for an entire trade in the deep five-figure range, even though they are not scheduled to start for quite some time.

Yes 11ant, that's true. However, it does not always go wrong, but often goes well...

I was talking about no going wrong at all (???)

That is the expert's perspective... and... you are only allowed to mention it cautiously, also his job that he lives from. And the expert of course also lives from the builder's fear of the defect. If that were not the case, he would work on commission...

Which expert and which fear?

And if it goes well, then you save a lot of money. I paid 40 EUR gross for a socket, my neighbor over his general contractor 120. A "security" that you pay dearly for.

The uninformed reader could now "conclude" that your neighbor gave his general contractor 200% commission for passing the bills into the greedy mouth (and the world is flat) :-(

We also paid the additional cost for electrical work directly during the rough installation. It was only €1500 and went directly to the general contractor.

With us, directly to the electrician; at Heinz von Heiden, every upgrade that happens after the planning meeting is settled directly with the trades without going through Heinz von Heiden.

Where did you upgrade?

With the electrician: more sockets + switches but also more LAN ports. Patch panel and small network cabinet as well.

With us, directly to the electrician, at Heinz von Heiden every upgrade that happens after the planning meeting is billed directly with the trades without the detour via Heinz von Heiden.

In other words, this means that the general contractor considers the planning meeting as closing; no jot is changed in the contract with them, and in legal consequence, these upgrades are then independent direct contracts between the customer and subcontractor. Good grief, the impact this has on warranties. Such a general contractor would be "dead" to me.

And that also explains why the subcontractor treats the entire upgrade difference as excluded from the payment plan between you and the general contractor.