My real 1st Rehab

[John Baker]

Hello everyone! I'm finally getting started with my 1st real rehab project, and I met up with a kitchen cabinet restoration worker yesterday to give me estimates on how much it will cost to restore kitchen cabinets. So, anyways he sent me an estimate by email and it was $3800, but he wants a 50% downpayment of $1900, which I am uncomfortable with, as I feel it would encourage him to slack off; I've seen this happen to my other rehabber friends.

My question is...Do you think this is sketchy and risky to pay a 50% deposit? And also how do I let him know that I require that the contract include penalties for not completing the work on time ($100 dollar penalty a day of going over the agreed upon completion date)? Do you think this will scare him off? I also want a start date and completion date written in the contract. Do I just write it on a word document and send my requirements to him by email and ask him to sign the document? 

I'm sorry if I ask so many questions. I'm just unsure of what to do. Any help and advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!