As for your methodology of contracting with investors and asking for deposit.

The most successful ones have a methodology and they stick to it.

So the methodology and practice exist. 

@Steven Lowe here is the quote that I am referring to:“Slave customs in ancient Babylon, though they may seem inconsistent to us, were strictly regulated by law.

No judgment on those who use them or who use their methodologies - they're just not for me!  

The ancient central AC unit went out on me about 6 months after I bought the place.

He is a big believer in Dave Ramsey's methodology and I consider him to be my "Poor Dad".

Some really great posts here, especially @Dave Foster @Jay Hinrichs @Joel Owens @Brie SchmidtI would just add an ancient saying that I live with daily, along the lines of many of the previous posts"Who is wealthy?

My challenge to anyone in CA, specifically the Bay area, is to post a link to the methodology used in the "study".

to which Alexander replied laconically, “We’ll use their ships.”In Asia there was Chinese general, Xiang Yu, who ordered his troops across the river and quietly burned the bridge behind them, a tactic that got the boys so motivated that they beat the mighty Qin at the Battle of Julu in 207BC.Julius Ceasar, the Ancient Roman who wrote long letters home so that everyone would know about his incredibly wonderful victories...So, decide what you want to do.