ᐅ Are partial inspections of construction phases common with a general contractor?

Hello everyone!
After months of searching, we decided to go with a local carpentry company that is slightly more expensive but has an excellent reputation in the area.
We are now encountering some initial inconsistencies: the contract is basically a scope of work with a few rough payment milestones.

When we asked to define inspections for each construction phase, we were told that the only inspection would be at the end; there would be no inspections in between.
The explanation given was that, since the carpentry company is acting as the general contractor (GC) and responsible for all trades, only a final inspection makes sense.

Are there other homeowners here who only had a final inspection?

Is it acceptable that there are no interim inspections when working with a general contractor?

That's how it is. Completely normal. When you pay for a stage, you have accepted it. Then comes the final inspection and the remaining payment, done.

... And the inspections must be defined in the contract, right?

No. You have a small local contractor as your partner. They don’t dwell on legal issues and paperwork; they build. You pay, and that creates a fact. They say what I received is okay, so that’s why there is payment.

Be glad that you even get a contract. We didn’t have one at all, just a handshake, a very rough scope of work, a very rough payment schedule, and a promise to allow a discount if payment is made within eight days. That works too.

Where did you build, Karsten?
I thought everything based on a handshake and a good reputation in the village was only possible in the deepest parts of Bavaria 😀

Final inspection only at the very end!