Your money moves only when the work is done
Milestone-based escrow payments eliminate the risk of overpaying for incomplete work. Funds are held securely and released in stages — only after you approve each phase.
How milestone payments work
Four stages. Every payment protected. No surprises.
Step 01
Funds Go Into Escrow
Before work begins, the agreed project amount is deposited into a secure escrow account — held by a neutral third party, not your contractor.
Step 02
Milestones Are Defined
Your project is broken into verified phases: foundation, framing, rough-in, drywall, finish, and final inspection. Each has a defined deliverable and payment amount.
Step 03
You Approve Each Phase
When a milestone is complete, you review the work and approve payment release. Funds transfer to your contractor only after your sign-off — not before.
Step 04
Closeout & Final Release
Final payment releases only after punch list sign-off, lien waivers are collected, and you confirm project completion. Your money is protected until the very end.
Built-in financial protections
Every project on Kealee includes these protections automatically.
No prepayment to contractors
Your contractor never receives payment in advance. Work must be completed and approved before any funds move.
Lien waiver collection
We collect lien waivers at each payment milestone to protect your property from mechanics lien claims.
Dispute hold period
If a dispute arises, funds are frozen and held until resolution — protecting both parties during any disagreement.
Full payment audit trail
Every payment, approval, and milestone sign-off is recorded and time-stamped in your Owner Portal.
Why lien waivers matter
When a contractor or subcontractor is paid, they sign a lien waiver releasing their right to file a mechanics lien against your property. Without lien waivers at each payment, a contractor who was underpaid by their subcontractor could legally place a lien on your home — even if you paid in full. Kealee collects conditional and unconditional lien waivers at every milestone payment as part of the escrow process.
Build with financial protection from day one
Every Kealee project includes milestone escrow automatically — no add-ons, no surprises.