What's the best way to take a deposit on a wholesale deal?

[Daniel Hart]

Hi, I just got a property under contract that I intend to assign. I'm not sure what to do about collecting a deposit from an end buyer.

What's the standard way to take a deposit from a buyer who I intend to assign my contract to? If it's someone I know I won't take a deposit, but if it's someone random I'd like to get $1000. Is this normal, and if so, what's the customary way to do this? Should they make out a check to me, my LLC, the closing attorney, themselves?

I was thinking it would be a good idea to have them make it out to the closing attorney and hold it in escrow, thoughts?

Thank you.