All of the problems cited could have been prevented by not paying for work in advance. About thirty years ago, I acted as my own general contractor and built a house. If I had paid any of my workers or contractors in advance, I would still be building that house. To me, this is a no brainer. If a contractor demands money in advance, that is a red flag that you are dealing with someone who is not reliable. Just tell them to take a hike. There are plenty of contractors who will do the work and then get paid. In some cases, you may need to make partial payments, but never pay more than the value of the work they have already completed.
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