(Did you check his license, bond, insurance, and references before you hired him?)

This is why at our company we get payment and performance bonds on our contractors to eliminate our exposure.Good luck!

I think I now need to apply to same rules to all men in my life- for dating or business- no one younger than me, no one I need to explain bonding primer to, and no one without a business card. oye vey.

With these types of sales, negotiating is like pulling teeth.

While they're walking the job pick their brains & learn everything you van.Look at the license boards requirements on license, bond, insurance & most importantly down payment.

I like to use the analogy of it's like a FICO score to a lender, or Bond rating to a bond investor. 

Personally I like the low risk approach to a local house hack, cutting your teeth, so to speak before looking out of state.

When you do not need the money, the bonds are doing their work accumulating return. 

If it has no "teeth" for damage, it's going to get very hard used. 

Absolutely, check out Bo Bond at www.CPIAI.com for the property insurance.