In some ways, competent contractors and managers of construction can plan ahead for all kinds of theoretically unforeseeable issues. They can build a buffer into their projected timeline for rainstorms and supply chain interruptions. They can budget according to recent fluctuations in subcontract...

Contracts are a necessary component of any construction project. From home construction to simple renovations or remodeling, pretty much every construction project is governed by some sort of contract. And if you get the contract aspect of things right, everything else is likely to go according t...

A construction project is a huge and complex undertaking. From the property owner to the contractor, suppliers and subcontractors – everyone involved must work as a team to ensure the project's success.  But with so many moving parts, it is not uncommon for construction projects to run into some ...

From faulty drains to foundation cracks and water intrusion, construction defects can lower a structure's value and compromise residents' safety and health. Besides, it can be costly and challenging to resolve construction defect lawsuits. As a result, construction industry professionals need to ...

Whether you are a contractor or subcontractor, no one likes to see the clause in a construction contract commonly known as “No Damage For Delay.” This clause protects a party to the contract – often the owner of the project or a contractor hiring a subcontractor – against damage claims for situat...

Contracting and construction companies are always at risk of not receiving full payment for services rendered. Some people think nothing will happen to them if they refuse to pay. At other times, clients might be unable to pay but you still deserve your money. The first solution most consider is ...

If a court decides that one party to a contract is guilty of breaching it, they will often award the other party damages for whatever losses they have suffered. There are several ways they can calculate this. They include: Going by what the contract says Some people pre-agree a figure for a breac...

You've been in the construction industry for many years, working your way up from the ground until you were able to form your own company and become your own boss.  Setting up your own business has many benefits, such as being able to choose your own projects, team members and business partners. ...

These days, the only thing predictable about the weather is that it's unpredictable. New York can experience snowstorms well into what is officially spring (and before the start of winter). Devastating storms like Superstorm Sandy can leave residents without a home or business for months or longe...

As a contractor serving New York businesses and residents, you will likely face a construction dispute sooner or later. Whether a disagreement with a sub-contractor or a vendor, these disputes disrupt your operations and may even impact your finances. Do you have a plan in place to manage any con...

Any good business would know that, in order to keep operations smooth, there will be ample contracts with cooperative parties. A contract is a document that can ensure each party understands their legal obligations when providing goods or services. Without a well-defined contract, businesses may ...

As a general contractor, you take full responsibility for the outcome of your projects with your clients – but that doesn't mean you can't seek redress when someone else gave you bad information. Whether you have been working on a new construction project that has gone sour or a renovation that e...

As a contractor, you know that it can be difficult to get people to pay for your services. In fact, some construction companies will demand payment upfront in order to get around this. But many people want to only make a down payment upfront, or they may even be looking for companies that will ac...

No one wants to anticipate a dispute when starting a construction project. All being well, everything goes swimmingly and both parties reach the end happy with the work that's been carried out. Unfortunately, however, disputes are inevitable and unavoidable in some circumstances. To avoid the nee...

Whether you own a construction-related company or you develop real estate, it is vital that you protect your company's intellectual property interests. A failure to do so could not just expose your company to potential liability, it could also cost your company time, resources, customer loyalty a...

One of the many tools you have in your arsenal as a business owner in the construction industry to collect payment that's owed you is something called a “dunning letter.” Many people who use these don't know them by that term, which is derived from a centuries-old word for demanding payment of a ...

In business, good contracts are the key to avoiding a lot of problems – and this is never more true than in construction. But contracts are highly complicated vehicles. People often don't know exactly what they should and shouldn't include in a contract, nor what's considered “reasonable and fair...

You know the importance of having a safe worksite to keep your employees from getting hurt on the job. However, if you don't have protective barriers around the site, you could also be liable for non-employee injuries. Here is what you need to know about the attractive nuisance doctrine. The law ...

One thing that most construction companies have to deal with is trying to ensure that clients are happy with the finished project. This isn't always as easy as it might seem.  It's best to have a plan for handling customer complaints before you get the first one. Even if you've handled issues in ...

When someone is buying a product, they pay for it at the time they receive it. But when that product is something like a new home that has to be built, it can take months or even years for this process to play out. It depends on the size of the project and many other factors. From a payment stand...

Years of effort on behalf of construction workers and their families have finally paid off with the passage of “Carlos' Law,” named for the 22-year-old immigrant, Carlos Moncayo, who was killed in a tragic accident back in 2015. On the day of the accident, an inspector visited the construction si...

Reputation is everything when you perform construction work professionally. Your clients help you reach new people who may need similar work done on their homes. They can also leave reviews for you online that could entice future clients or send them running straight to your competitors. Proper e...

When a client hires your construction company to do a job, they probably have a lot of opinions about the aesthetics of that future building. Perhaps it is a home or a commercial location. The client is going to have ideas about the finishings that they want and the end stages of the job that inc...

As a contractor, part of your job is to partner with subcontractors. You may manage the job overall, or you may do most of the work and just bring in specialists as needed. Either way, you could end up bringing on subcontractors who do electrical work, plumbing, drywall or some other task on the ...

You have a successful construction company and business is thriving. Usually, you carry out work to a high standard and customers are happy to pay what seems to be a fair amount. Unfortunately, you are feeling nervous about your latest client. You have your suspicions that they are going to refus...