If you are a contractor or materials supplier working in Washington DC and are dealing with payment problems, a mechanics lien might be just the thing you need. Mechanics liens are the most powerful tool to protect payments on a construction project. Securing and enforcing your lien rights can be a complicated process. However, if you’re willing and able to go at it alone, you’re in the right place. This guide will provide every step…

If you’ve been working on a construction project in the state of Rhode Island, and are having payment issues, a mechanics lien might be just the solution you’re looking for. Mechanics lien rights are one of the most effective tools for contractors, subs, and suppliers to protect against nonpayment. This guide will provide you with everything you need to know about how to file a mechanics lien in Rhode Island to ensure you get…

There are four basic reports that make up the core financial statements of a construction company: Balance Sheet, Income Statement (or Profit and Loss Statement), Cash Flow Report, and Work-in-Progress (WIP) report. We’ll take you through each of them and describe what they mean – and how they can help contractors improve access to credit, bonding capacity, and cash flow overall. Unless you’re an accounting or money geek, the thought of reviewing these reports may…

Mechanics lien rights are statutory rights, which means that you must comply with specific legal requirements in order to exercise these rights. And courts are typically unafraid to enforce those requirements strictly. Often, requirements include when and how to sending notices and other documents. Typically in Pennsylvania, improper notice can invalidate a mechanics lien. However, a court in Pennsylvania declared in 2019 that even though a subcontractor didn’t send their notice by the proper means,…

If you’ve gone unpaid while working on a construction project in the Green Mountain State, then a mechanics lien might be exactly what you’re looking for. A mechanics lien is one of the most powerful tools for contractors and suppliers to protect their rights to payment. This how-to guide will provide you with everything you’ll need to know about filing a mechanics lien in Vermont. Table of Contents Before you file: Make sure you have…

You just received a demand letter from a sub or supplier. It says something about…a prompt payment law? It even threatens interest penalties and potentially court costs if you don’t pay. Yikes! How should you respond when you’re facing a prompt payment demand from someone on a construction project? Does the law really say you need to pay interest and fees on the outstanding amount? Before we get into that – and we will –…

Change orders happen on nearly every construction project. While they’re often necessary, they can be confusing, and and feel just like extra unnecessary work. But performing work – without written approval – that wasn’t in your original scope of work can severely affect a construction company’s right to payment. In a court case out of Kansas, an electrical subcontractor learned the hard way that performing work with unapproved change orders can cost you. Table of…