If your going to be shelling out big buck's, I would make sure he's CEDIA certified. Do a search for CEDIA to learn a little more about the association. It's basically a custom installer association. I'd say you have a better chance of getting what you pay for if their a CEDIA member. I don't think that any CEDIA member would risk there membership by ripping off cutomers. There's to much money to be made by being a member in good standing. I know I've over simplified what CEDIA is, but all the different installer's here in Las Vegas that are CEDIA members, are people who really love what they do. If there's something that I can't do,I call them. If it's something that I know I can do, I call/visit them and they've always told me exactly how to do it. As far as your installer goes, I'd trust my gut instinct. He's already proven himself dishonest. DISCLAIMER: I am not a custom installer, nor am I a CEDIA member.