I would pay the GC as work is done and he presents the receipts for the work -- rather than in big chunks where it is harder to see what I've paid for,  It seems like giving him a big chunk of money up front kinda defeats that purpose.

Like Dion mentioned though, having a 100 page guide defeats the purpose for the little guy and former homeowner just trying to sell. 2.

Painted brick is not popular here, defeats the purpose of having a maintenance free (limited) exterior.Top roof left, the facia looks like it needs paint. :)

Plus, since they look like you took the time to personally write to them, you would defeat the whole purpose by not using their name.

Bush said last night that to defeat terror, you have to replace tyranny with democracy one nation at a time.

And then the reports arrived from the official sources, the truth that London was safe, Napoleon was defeated. 

DoNot do what you don’t want to do , if your new and have to go into a slob tenant situation you will likely find yourself extremely frustrated defeated and hurt financially.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

It's good to have some self-defense classes, but it's naive to think that you can really defeat anyone.GTF out of there.

Negative CF is an added cost that defeats the purpose of buying RE.