FranklyA single line and a single number
"Replace roof — $28,500" is not an estimate; it is a price. Without layers, underlayment, flashing, decking, and ventilation spelled out, there is nothing to hold anyone to and nothing to compare against another bid.
A deposit above the legal cap
California limits home improvement down payments to $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. A request for a third or a half up front is not a negotiating position — it is outside what the law allows for this kind of contract.
A discount that expires today
Legitimate scheduling discounts exist. A price that drops sharply only if you sign before the salesperson leaves your kitchen is a pressure technique, and it tends to travel with the weakest scope documents.
No licence number, or a mismatched one
The C-39 licence number should be on the estimate and should match the business name on the contract when you check it at cslb.ca.gov. A mismatch is not always fraud, but it always deserves an explanation before money changes hands.