Wow, great job of ingratiating yourself to the "old hags". I hope you're studying Public Relations/ Marketing, as not many can do it as well as you. Simply Fantastic...
Your advice is an ABSOLUTE! I have Contractor friends and a (minor) percentage of their work is picking up the pieces and finishing projects for folks who've made the HUGE Mistake of paying a con artist who's run off with their money at different stages of the build.