Reasonable Egress Window Install Costs? (Hyattsville, MD)

[Mike Warder]

I would like to install an egress window in a property so tenants can legally sleep in a basement space. My handyman gave me an estimate for $1,500 to pull permits and $4,000 for the work. I already bought the window system. A small window already exists in the room at the exterior ground level, so the work will entail digging into the ground and cutting into the wall. Is this estimate reasonable for Hyattsville, MD? My handyman has been hard to work with on this and when I told him not to proceed until I could consider the costs, he said he already submitted a permit request and if it is approved I will need to pay him the $1,500. Any insights, advice, contractor recommendations would be appreciated. 

Thanks in advance!