How much should I expect to pay as a deposit?

I always work on stage payments! Once I have completed first stage a payment is asked for. Never give somebody money up front hope this helps

I wouldn't personally pay money upfront to someone i didn't know,unless its for materials which more then likely they can order for you and for you to ring up and pay over the phone directly with the building merchants. Be careful

this is basically a point of trust, trust being a two way street, you don't know your tradesman your tradesman does not know you if you trust the tradesman you have chosen then you adhere to their terms of business if you don't trust them their pick an other tradesman, unfortunately their is a few bad customers out their who have no intension's of ever paying for the work, on bigger jobs I personally want a 25% deposit this guarantees that at least some of the material are payed for before I order it, this shows you trust me and I trust you if the customer is reluctant to pay a deposit then their is no trust this is not the ideal way to start a working relationship, so would tend to think this indicates their may be an issue getting payment on completion ,its then up to the tradesman whether I he is willing to take a chance on doing the job on not. if you go any large shop and order stuff they want paid before its delivered even if its going to take weeks, yet you want this tradesman to do your work order your materials on the promise of payment, why should he trust you if your mot prepared to trust him good luck alex