08/20/2026
Fire Victims - WATCH OUT FOR CONTRACTORS REQUIRING LARGE CASH DEPOSITS!
It would be normal for a contractor to require to be pre-funded on the project. They have to be, otherwise, if for some reason you didn’t pay, then they would be on the hook for the billings owed on your project.
HOWEVER, you should not be required to provide the contractor with excessively large cash funding in advance!

Here’s how you protect yourself :
Require the contractor to provide a breakdown of cost. An example would be excavation, foundations, framing materials, framing labor, trusses, windows, siding, etc.
Then have the contractor list what items are coming in the next month and only pre-pay for that work. Reconcile this each month and make another advance deposit. Some items require advance deposit more than a month in advance and that would be products like the cabinets, fireplaces, and some finish items like a deposit that may be required to hold a specific slab of granite or quartz countertop material.
If your contractor is requiring that you provide evidence of being able to fund the entire project and to give them all the money in advance. DO NOT give them that much money! If they spend it elsewhere and can’t pay your bills on the end of the project, you will only have the value of their bond to go after. Recovery of the rest would be a legal nightmare.
The solution to that problem would be to use a title company and have all of the funds put into escrow. This provides proof of funding for the builder, and protects your money because it is only released from the title company each month after you approve the billing that is submitted to you from the builder. 
Hope this helps. Feel free to text me with any questions and if you’re still looking for a builder, we still have capacity to help.
Take care and God bless!
Tim Lewis
Lewis Construction
509 951 6959
