Finish the basement. Fund it like a bank.
Utah basements are half a house's square footage and a favorite habitat of the vanish-after-drywall contractor. On Obra the money releases stage by stage — framing, drywall, flooring, built-ins — each on proof.
Basements are long jobs with lumpy costs. On Obra the whole finish is escrowed before you load the first stud, and each stage pays out same-day when the homeowner approves your evidence.
Built for the way this goes wrong.
Built for the way you actually get paid.
What's behind the drywall, on record
Framing, wiring, and rough-ins are documented before they're covered — and before their draw releases.
Committed funds, visible ledger
You and your contractor watch the same escrow balance. No 'where did the deposit go.'
Built-ins and finishes on proof
The expensive, visible last third of the job releases only when you can see it done.
Long jobs, steady cash
Five draws across the project means payroll never rides on one big final check.
Inspection-friendly evidence
Your rough-in photos live alongside the draw — handy when the city inspector or the homeowner asks in March.
The subs get paid on time
Same-day releases mean your drywall and flooring subs stop pricing you like a slow payer.
A typical basement finishing project on Obra: $82,000, five draws.
Every dollar is committed to licensed escrow at signing and releases per phase — when you've seen the evidence and tapped approve.same-day ACH each time the homeowner approves your evidence.
| Draw | Milestone | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Framing & rough-ins | $21,000 |
| 02 | Drywall & paint | $14,500 |
| 03 | Flooring & doors | $16,500 |
| 04 | Wet bar & built-ins | $19,000 |
| 05 | Trim, punch list & final | $11,000 |
What homeowners ask about basement finishing.
What basement finishing pros ask.
How should I pay a basement finishing contractor?
In verified stages, with the money committed but restricted: that's escrow with a draw schedule. Each stage — framing, drywall, flooring, built-ins, final — releases when you've seen the evidence and approved.
What happens if the project stalls at drywall?
The remaining funds are still in escrow — the classic stall loses its payoff, because unearned money was never in anyone's pocket. A defined wind-down protects what's left.
Can the draw schedule match my sub schedule?
Yes. You set the milestones and amounts with the homeowner at signing — front-load framing and rough-ins if that's where your cost sits. Both sides e-sign before funding.
What about change orders when they add a bathroom mid-job?
Propose it in-app with a price. The homeowner approves, escrow and schedule adjust, and the added scope is funded — not floated on a handshake.
Start your basement finishing protected.
Bring your next basement finishing job to Obra.
Now piloting with projects on the Wasatch Front.