highup, yeah, where I live people tend to be very dishonest. The contractors scam customers and customers scam the contractors. When I had my new septic tank and lines put in, the contractor told me that he'd had to put liens on people's homes and get some sort of thing where the power company wasn't allowed to turn on their power until they paid him first (not even sure if that is legal) bc they refused to pay. He didn't even have a written contract or itemized bill-- just a handshake deal. But, I was told by the health inspector that handshake deals sans writing are "business as usual" around here. No wonder so many people get screwed.
IIRC, there are laws against contractors charging more than 10% up front.
I will say that we did have a good experience with the contractors who did our roof, siding, & poured concrete. Sadly, the business is gone as the lead contractor passed away. The older generation of contractors were more reliable and competent it seems, but the younger ones don't seem to have the same ethics or skill (at least around here).
I'm sad that my good neighbor closed down his flooring business. But, he had knee replacement surgery & it was just harder for him to do-- plus he was competing with the guy who owned half the town (who made deals with rug companies not to sell specific brands to other businesses). Somehow that guy got listed on the wikipedia as a "philanthropist" but everyone who knew him said he didn't have a generous bone in his body. Since his death, his adult children have taken over and started up their own businesses & started fixing up the buildings that he was allowing to fall apart.
