Just What We Need! Another Blog!

July 6, 2017

Actually, I think we do! While there is a lot of information on the internet addressing complicated legal issues on complicated construction projects, there isn't much information out there addressing basic issues faced by trade contractors and materials suppliers working on the ground. Who wants to read about that?!

Short answer is I think you do! The purpose of this blog is to address the basic issues we hear about from our construction clients every day. Why would I want or need to file a lien? What is it? How do I do it? When do I do it? Moving forward, we will be answering these questions and more.

First things first!  As a small business owner, it can be hard to cover all the bases. Builders like to build; good honest people who are willing to work on a handshake. Building comes first. Documentation sometimes comes in second or third or lower on the priority list. However, in addition to doing good work, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself is document.

This means having a good contract. It means understanding and filing the required notices on your job. It means insisting on written change orders. It means keeping track of your expenses. No one wants to sue or be sued on their job. It is time consuming, expensive and energy draining. If you do have to go down this road, having good documentation can make all the difference.

When you start your job, the relationships are good, there is no disagreement about the job and everyone is happy. When I see your case, someone isn't happy and there is a usually a disagreement about the job. What was to be done? When was it supposed to be done? How much or when where you supposed to be paid? Having appropriate documentation will make it much easier to answer these questions and to prove your case in court. Put yourself in the shoes of the judge or jury and think about what you would want or need to see to prove your case.

Call or email us for a fee consultation if you have questions not fully addressed by the information provided here.