As a last resort, demand that the contractor use payment via credit card. If you have a problem with the contractor, you can contact your credit card company and have them intercede. In general I agree with all of the comments above. We did pay our landscaper upfront for the plants (about 1/3), and the remainder when the project was finished. The particular landscaper had done several projects in the neighborhood, and was known to several neighbors.
__________________
Pennsylvania, for 60+ years, most recently, Allentown, now TV. 
|