Petrolhead, glad to see you haven't been stung before so. But I do agree that not ALL companies are out to rip you off and some are respectable but speaking for myself in some instances and a few other friends building you have to have eyes on the back of your head doing a self build because money talks and bullsh*t walks. If anything goes wrong, all you hear is, 'well, we can't be held liable because ... and then what do you do, you have paid them the money and next option, lawyers. No thanks. I think I would have a nervous breakdown if I had to deal with that along with a self build. And if I hear one more supplier, tradesman demand money up front because they have being stung before, which happens, I know, I will go mad. We all have!!!! I am sure that quite a lot of people have been stung somewhere along the lines, as our aim is to get the best price, their aim is to make as much money as they can which equals our ongoing struggle. So all in all, I would say that paranoid we ain't.