Preventing Contractors from stealing from you

[Cal Ewing]

Hi Rehabbers and Builders.

We recently had a plumber who disappeared into thin air along with the $1000 installment we had paid him. This was a fellow who was chosen by our GC to do the work. We paid him the first installment of $2000 to do phase 1 of the plumbing  on our rehab. He completed the work in a timely fashion and did a good job. We then paid him to start the next phase when he took off. 

Besides paying in installments, I am wondering if anyone has ideas as to how to prevent this from happening again. We can't always be on site babysitting these guys. Obviously doing better due diligence on the contractors who work for us is a good plan but does anyone have any other tricks?