I love trades men that are trustworthy. I had the same deal with a guy who replaced my burner in my furnace last year. I was left in the dead of winter with no money, and no furnace, but he fixed it for me for $400 up front, and then on pay day (a week later) I paid him the rest. He trusted me that I would pay him later. Funny, because two other people from "reputable" large furnace companies here wanted me to replace my entire furnace..for 2000$ and wouldnt even look at it without me paying.
Gotta love the old school guys, it's too bad there isn't more!!

 

Yea this guy is out here by me in the middle of nowhere haha, ya gotta drive around on back roads looking for shops to find the good ones.

 

very true...very true. Or just go to the sleaziest dirtiest looking places. They usually do cheap, but trustworthy work