Contractor deposits: sane vs scam

You want the hole tamped shut. They want money before the truck moves. Both things can be true. The amount, the method, and whether you will ever see them again are the whole game.

Storm weeks in Houston bring the deposit dance. Learn the steps before you Venmo a stranger.

If the number makes your stomach drop, that is data. Listen to it.

Do this now

Get a written scope: tarp, dry-in, or full replace, with a dollar amount and an address.
Refuse cash-only, gift-card, or crypto deposits. Refuse “today only” pricing.
Pay a modest deposit to a company you can find next month, with a card or check that leaves a trail.
Never sign a blank authorization or a document that assigns the whole claim if you do not understand it.

What sane looks like

A local roofer asks for a reasonable deposit to order materials, or they bill the tarp as a small emergency ticket. You get a receipt. The company name on the invoice matches the truck and the website. They will come back to finish or they will say when they cannot. That is a business. After Harvey-style events, even good shops get sloppy on paperwork. You do not have to.

What a scam looks like

Half or all up front in cash. Out-of-state plates. A contract on a tablet you cannot take a copy of. Pressure about “crews leaving town tomorrow.” A demand that you sign over the insurance check before work starts. Houstonians often report the crew that needed money “for materials” never bought materials. If you already paid, keep every scrap and talk to the Harris County District Attorney consumer path, the city, and the Texas Attorney General. 311 can point you if you are inside Houston.

Deposits vs progress payments

A full reroof can use draws: deposit, dry-in, completion. That is normal when the job is real. A tarp should not need a second-mortgage energy. Tie money to visible work. Walk the roof or the photos before the next payment. If they want the final check while the deck is still open, you are financing their next porch.

Verify live. Status changes hourly. Confirm the company name, local registration, and insurance before any deposit. Report fraud patterns to city or county consumer channels and the Texas Attorney General.