When they ask for that much money, they're telling you they can't pay their light bill. When it's still not done, 2 years from now, they'll ask you for another $1000 toward the new 2019 price of $5500. You already agreed to "no refund". Trust me: the money isn't in escrow, and they will refuse any request for a financial statement ("where did the money go?"). It went to rent and salaries, like it always does.
...OR maybe because there could always be that someone who will order a block with custom work done to it and then back out of the deal because of whatever reason. And who gets stuck when that happens?? I don't blame MM at all for covering their @** by requesting a down payment.
