Dalton Thompson
Hi Sue, It can be common for tradesmen to ask for a deposit to cover their materials, however we'd always advise to only pay up to 20% of the total cost for the work. We have a before you hire checklist which we hope will prove useful to you – it covers qualifications, reputation and the contract itself: http://www.ratedpeople.com/c/homeowner-checklist. Best Wishes, Josh The Ask An Expert Team
