Getting paid at the end of the day

By Emma Peterson. 

From contracts to invoices to filing liens, learn the basics of how to get compensation for your work. 

The legal side of the roofing industry can seem intimidating and overwhelming. But there are many resources out there to help you navigate the intricacies of construction law. Adams and Reese is an industry leader in this field, known across the U.S. for delivering results to their customers and staying on top of new issues and developments in the field of law. In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Karen Edwards spoke to Ashlee Poplin, an attorney at Adams and Reece specializing in construction law and serves as the National Women in Roofing’s general counsel. 

Ashlee shared insights into the different tools and procedures made available to contractors when it comes to making sure they get paid in a timely manner. Ashlee explained, “Anytime you're in a situation where you haven't been paid, I recommend starting with following up with a phone call. So, if you have a direct phone line to whoever it is that you're working with, make sure you follow up first by phone, find out what's going on and let them know you've got this outstanding invoice that needs to be paid.” If you still do not get a response from them over the phone, Ashlee recommends following up in writing. She explained, “In addition to a written demand, make sure you file a claim of lien in the event that you're still not getting paid.”  

A lien is a tool that allows contractors to put a claim on the property. Essentially, it limits what the owners can do with it until the contractor receives payment. This is a good way to put pressure on the client to pay for the contracting work. In extreme cases, a lien can even force the sale of the property in order to pay the contractor. Ashlee shared an example, “These become very helpful and very valuable if you're in a position where the owner that you've performed the work for is in a quick need to sell the property. Say, if they're flipping a home or they're getting ready to be under contract and part of it was to have a new roof put on, then the lien does become much more powerful because then you will get paid out of the proceeds of that sale.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the episode for more information about construction law and navigating the legal side of running a contracting business.