Some readers may have noticed this Construction Lien Blog underwent a design overhaul two or three weeks ago. We let it go without mentioning, as it was just a first step toward this complete overhaul. The blog’s new design now matches Zlien’s website, as we went live with the redesign over the weekend.

Although there are significant design enhancements with the new site design, I consider these two as the most significant improvements:

Mechanics Lien & Preliminary Notice Resources

When we set out to redesign the Zlien website, creating a more organized and user-friendly mechanics’s lien resource center was our top priority, and we believe we successfully redesigned this element of our offerings.

Now, the user can click on a state, and be brought to that state’s homepage for lien and notice resources.  All resources, whether it be deadline charts, state projects, private projects, statutes or forms, are all easily accessible from one spot online.  Plus, we even pump our mechanic’s lien law alerts from this blog onto the state’s homepage.

In addition to the design enhancements, we also have content enhancements.  There are more mechanic lien law and preliminary notice requirements published on the Zlien website than ever before, and we’ve got the web’s most extensive mechanic’s lien and preliminary notice forms database.  The best part about all of these forms?  They’re organized, easy to find, and free.

The Fastest, Smartest and Easiest Ordering System On The Planet

Although our Mechanic’s Lien Ordering System was the best and most sophisticated on the planet, we thought it could be even better. Now, it is.

We’ve improved our progress bar, so that instead of seeing a generic colored bar, you can see each step that is required to complete your order and just how much further you have left to fill out.  We’ve completely re-designed our order contact management system, making it more intuitive and easy to add project contacts to your order.  We’ve utilized APIs to match zip codes, cities, states and counties to ensure order accuracy. And finally, we’ve just made the dang thing look prettier.

If your company needs to deliver a preliminary notice, or file a mechanic’s lien or bond claim, there isn’t a faster, easier or more accurate way to get this done.  The Zlien Filing Wizard is the best on the planet, and you can give it a shot here: Order A Mechanic’s Lien Now.

Here’s a screenshot of this new feature in work within the LienWizard:

Knowing the construction project’s county is critically important to mechanic lien filings, as most states require you to file your mechanic’s lien in the county where the project is located. By verifying the county against the project’s zip code, this new feature is another way Zlien can help you Lien Smart.

It’s this simple:

1. You put in your project information (state, your role, project type);
2. The Wizard tells you the applicable notice requirements and lien deadlines
3. You select from the list of associated documents

Zlien’s database of lien and notice deadlines and requirements is more extensive and accurate than any other database in the country.

Take a look at these screen shots to see how the first 2 screens of the Wizard works:

Step 1: Inputting Your Project Information

The first step is easy.    The Wizard asks four basic questions about your project – the state where you are working,  your role in the project, who hired you, and what the type of project.

Lien laws vary state-by-state, but they also vary depending on those other three factors.   It is common for states to impose heightens notice requirements for residential projects…and oftentimes, notices are required only from subcontractor and those without a contract with the owner (rather than from everyone).

Step 2: Getting Applicable Notice and Lien Requirements for Your Project

With the small amount of information you provided, the Wizard pulls and displays from its database only the information, requirements and deadlines that are relevant to your project.

Once you’ve read over the notice and lien requirements, you’ll be ready to choose the type of document you want to file or send.   Even this component of the Wizard is tailored to your project, as only the documents relevant to you and your project will display.

Watch It On Video

Screen shots just not doing it for you?

Take a walk-through of these first two steps on video:

And remember, a database is just a database.   It has limitations.   We feel great about our product and its ability to display to you the relevant laws, notice requirements and lien deadlines.   However, there will never be a substitute for a real live attorney reviewing your specific project.  Zlien is not a law firm.

We’re happy to announce the launch of our new website, and the introduction to a number of new services that helps your company Lien Smarter…and Get Paid.

Zlien’s list of improvements makes our company the clear industry leader in providing web-based solutions for contractors and others in the construction industry who manage and file preliminary notices, mechanics liens and other lien documents.

The improvements and new features include:

Free Deadline Calculation & Management

Lien rights are valuable to our clients, and so it’s important to protect these rights by meeting statutory deadlines.   Managing these deadlines has proved difficult, since they are complicated, and change depending on where you’re working, the type of work performed, and more.

Zlien offers lien deadline calculation and management for free.   You input the details about your project, and Zlien will calculate your project’s deadlines.   When you login to the Lien Pilot, you’ll see all upcoming deadlines, ensuring that your company timely sends notices and liens…and protects its most powerful collection tools.

Improved Lien Pilot to Manage Orders, Projects, and Lien Documents

When logging into ZLien’s new Lien Pilot, clients will be met with a cleaner and more intuitive interface.   Users are able to manage project details, quickly check on the status of orders, input information to calculate and manage lien deadlines, and more.

The Lien Pilot is an asset to your collections department.   From here, you can organize the delivery of notices and liens, prevent lien rights from expiring, and cleanly keep track of your collection efforts on a non-paying construction project.

A Smarter Lien Wizard

The new Wizard is smart.    As you input information about your construction project, the Lien Wizard reduces the types of documents available to you to order.   By the time you’re ready to select your document, you’ll only see documents applicable to your project’s state, your role in the project, and the stage of the work.    The Wizard will also display the notice requirements applicable to your project, so you can review these before deciding which type of document you’d like to file.    If you are still unsure, the Lien Wizard will make suggestions to you.

Our service is completely web-based, meaning you don’t have to install, service, or upgrade any software. Everything is right where you need it, when you need it.

Plus, there’s no pressure to spend anything with our company.  You can mange you project data and deadlines without joining any memberships, without paying a monthly fee and without spending a nickel.   The nation’s most intuitive and efficient web-based lien management system is yours absolutely free.

When you’re ready to file a lien with us, you can painlessly make the order using our new Lien Wizard.   Zlien is a revolutionary service that makes filing liens easy and intuitive.  You give us the project details, and we’ll have the lien form filled-in, filed, sent to interested parties and uploaded to your account.   It’s easy and reliable, and all done for one low flat fee.

Speak with someone today if you have any questions.  We’re glad to help your company Lien Smarter.