[mulligan]

Never pay anything up front ( if a contractor can't start a job because of money, you don't want to deal with him), always get the contractor's license #, and check with the florida BPR ( bureau of professional regulation ) on the status of the license, and ALWAYS put your eyes on his certificate of liability insurance, and workers Compensation ins. When people show up to work, if they are not employees of the contractor, they need to jump through the same hoops, or do not start working.