| For a major home improvement or renovation, a | | | | number of unfinished projects and number of cases |
| homeowner usually hires the services of a contractor | | | | field against a contractor. These figures will give a |
| to do the job efficiently and quickly. For a first-time | | | | clear picture whether or not a contractor finishes a |
| homeowner, however, he would be surprised to | | | | contract, pays his employees or subcontractors on |
| know that there is a law that would attach his | | | | time and avoids litigation by getting the job done. |
| property to his contractor, a legal remedy known as | | | | 2. Ask for a detailed agreement - Put into writing |
| mechanics liens. Although a mechanics lien is | | | | everything that needs to be repaired or done, |
| unavoidable, there are a few things a homeowner | | | | including the timeframe for each work. Ask for the |
| could do to protect his home. | | | | names, contact details and job description of each |
| The basics of mechanics liens | | | | subcontractor and the expected period of work |
| For every major contracting job that a contractor, | | | | completion. This gives the specific numbers of key |
| supplier or worker engages into, the law permits him | | | | players in the project, and prevents the coming in of |
| to file for a mechanics lien into the property of the | | | | a new subcontractor without the knowledge of the |
| homeowner. This lien serves as protection for a | | | | homeowner. |
| contractor in the event that a homeowner fails to | | | | 3. Issue separate checks - A homeowner may issue |
| pay after the completion of a project. Enforcement | | | | separate checks for the contractor and the |
| of a mechanics lien is usually done like a regular | | | | subcontractors, which is better than coursing every |
| foreclosure proceedings. When the property is sold, | | | | payment through the contractor. This ensures that |
| the amount unpaid to a contractor would be taken | | | | every payment goes into the right hands. |
| from the sale. | | | | 4. Ask for receipt of payment - Ask the contractor |
| Although a mechanics lien this is something good, | | | | as well the subcontractor for a simple letter that |
| especially to contractors, a homeowner may be | | | | states they received payment for a specific |
| placed in an unfavorable position in some | | | | contracting job. Say, for a kitchen improvement, the |
| circumstances. One instance is when a contractor | | | | kitchen slab has been attached and the plumbing has |
| hires a subcontractor or a supplier. Even though the | | | | been done. Pay for these first and ask for receipt of |
| subcontract or a supplier is under agreement with the | | | | payment and do so again after the contractor is |
| contractor, under the law the subcontractor and the | | | | done with the kitchen cabinets, the floor tiles and the |
| supplier can attach a lien to the homeowner's | | | | wallpaper. |
| property. This means that if a contractor failed to | | | | 5. Get liens wavers - If the contractor wouldn't want |
| pay the subcontractor or a supplier even if the | | | | the homeowner communicating with his |
| homeowner has paid the contractor in full, the | | | | subcontractor or supplier, the homeowner may ask |
| subcontractor and the supplier may file to the court | | | | for a lien waver from the subcontractor or supplier. |
| for the enforcement of a mechanics lien | | | | This is to prevent them from claiming for a |
| How to protect your home | | | | mechanics lien against the homeowner even after the |
| 1. Hire a reputable contractor - Find someone with a | | | | homeowner has successfully paid the contractor in |
| good track record. Get the numbers, such as number | | | | full. |
| of completed projects, number of pending projects, | | | | |