Working in the construction profession, whether you help refinish wooden porches or install tiling, means performing a lot of detailed and skilled work, possibly without upfront payment. You may work long hours and need to meet very exacting standards to please your clients.
Most homeowners will be grateful for the work that you do and will compensate you according to your agreement, whether you have a written contract or an oral agreement. Unfortunately, there are some people out there who will try to take advantage of you by not fully paying you for the work.
Trying to collect on a debt can be a full-time job on its own and also requires legal knowledge so that you don’t wind up sued for harassment by the person who refused to pay you. Rather than calling someone and sending letters, you may want to ask the courts for help. Could you ask for a mechanic’s lien against the property in Colorado?
State law protects those who provide services and supplies
Professionals who work on a property or who provide building materials for construction or remodeling program have statutory rights under Colorado law. You need documentation about what you provided or the work that you did, as well as financial records showing what payment you have or have not received.
Those records will pave the way for you to ask the civil courts to place a mechanic’s lien against the property where you performed the work. A mechanic’s lien on the property will prevent the owner from selling, transferring or refinancing without first repaying what they owe.
Learning more about your collection rights as a construction professional can help you protect your business from unscrupulous clients.