Posts Tagged ‘Videos’

Tip of Week: Figuring Out What You Need to File With Our Lien Wizard

On October 18, 2011        

Zlien has built a dynamic web application to help suppliers, contractors and others in the construction industry to Lien Smart.  But, what does that mean?

One example of how our revolutionary web applications can help your company digest mechanic lien and preliminary notice requirements across the country is found in our LienWizard, which is designed to help you figure out what lien and notice documents you should file.

Whether you’re required to deliver a preliminary notice or notice of intent to lien, or what exact type of “lien” document you must record can be a complicated inquiry. It can depend on your tier in the project, the type of project you’re working on, the role of the party who hired you, and the state of the project. Nothing in the industry stacks up to Zlien’s LienWizard in helping you figure out what to file and when.

Take a look:

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The LienWizard is more than an online order form.  It’s a robust and useful web application in itself, that smoothly guides you through the lien and notice requirements in your state.

When you file a mechanics lien or preliminary notice with Zlien, you can be confident that your documents will be professionally prepared and filed.  Even more, however, our patent-pending protected software makes sure you can be confident that you’ve requested the correct document to file.

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Watch Supreme Court Oral Argument in Controversial Washington Mechanic’s Lien Case

On June 20, 2011        

If you keep up with construction industry news in Washington or are a reader of this blog, you’ve likely heard about the controversial Washington mechanics lien case climbing through the courts, Williams v. Athletics Field.  We’ve written about it there five or six times, explaining the history of the decision and how it could impact lien claims in the state.

Last year, the Washington Supreme Court accepted the decision for review, and the matter was orally argued on June 14, 2011.  You can watch the oral argument at this link, or in the video embedded below:

 

 

This case is interesting because a mechanics lien was invalidated even though it used the same wording and form provided by the statute. There is a conflict between the provided form and some other terminology within the law stating the verification must be in conformance with the state’s notary statutes.

When counsel for Athletics Field was making his presentation,the justices continually interrupted him questioning why the lien should stand when the acknowledgement is not in conformance with the notary statutes.  Justin Wiggins, for example, asks pointedly “If the statutory form was not an issue, do you think the acknowledgement was acceptable?” Another justice appeared concerned that the person who ultimately signed the lien (an employee of a lien preparation company) did not fully identify herself or explain her relationship to the claimant.

An underlying issue with this case that I think is very important but which has not been put front and center by the court and parties thus far is whether the lien statutes are subject to strict or liberal interpretation.  There is a conflict in the lien laws with respect to this issue as well, and the 1st District Court of Appeals have subscribed to liberal interpretation of liens, while the 2nd District, from where this Williams v. Athlethic Field decision arises, have subscribed to the opposite.  I discuss this in the blog post:  Bill Dies That Would Offset Controversial Williams v. Athletic Field Decision.

Posted in:     Mechanic Liens, The Legal Corner  /  Tags: , , , ,   /   Leave a comment

Effects of Mechanics Liens Explained by Consumer Report on Local News

On January 17, 2011        

Whenever I write about the effectiveness of mechanic liens, I use the tag “Why Lien.” It’s been said a lot on this blog: mechanic liens are the most effective collection tool available to your construction business.

Why are mechanic liens so effective? Because when done correctly, they can legally obligate parties (like property owners) to pay the lien amount even when they haven’t breached their contract with the other party.

Let me explain this with specifics. A window supplier supplies windows to a prime contractor for use on a project. The property owner pays the prime contractor for the windows, but the prime contractor doesn’t pay the window supplier. If the window supplier properly files a mechanics lien, the property owner may be obligated to pay the window supplier for the windows, even though s/he already paid the prime contractor for the same windows!

This precise scenario happened in Oklahoma City on a residential construction project, and a news program sympathized with the homeowner producing the below news story. While it’s unfortunate what happened to these property owners, this news report does a good job of demonstrating how effective a mechanics lien can be:

Posted in:     Mechanic Liens  /  Tags: , ,   /   Leave a comment

Video Demo: Calculate Mechanic Lien Deadlines

On July 2, 2010        

The Lien Pilot’s Deadline Calculator is an industry leading mechanic lien and preliminary notice management tool.

Your company gives our system the “trigger dates,” and our system will calculate your preliminary notice and lien deadlines for your project’s state.  You’re notified of pending deadlines through your web login, by exporting the deadlines to your Outlook or iCal desktop calendar, via RSS or through email.

When it’s time to file or deliver your document, you can do it yourself or pay a low flat fee to zlien to take care of it for your company.

Use us or not…the Lien Pilot’s lien and notice deadline calculator is always free to use. Let us help your company Lien Smarter…and Get Paid.   Here is a video to demonstrate how it works.

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The Wizard Makes Ordering the Right Document at the Right Time Easy

On November 11, 2009        

Zlien’s new Lien Wizard makes it easier than ever for contractors and suppliers to have preliminary notices, notices of intent to lien, mechanics liens and even lien releases processed.

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).

The Wizard Makes Ordering the Right Document at the Right Time Easy

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.

The Wizard Makes Ordering the Right Document at the Right Time Easy

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.

Posted in:     Lien Management, Web Updates  /  Tags: , , ,   /   Leave a comment
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Mechanic’s Lien Solution

  • The most potent tool you have to manage receivables is to preserve, perfect and enforce your mechanics lien and bond claim rights. But, it's so complex? Zlien is a revolutionary enterprise offering to monitor your lien deadlines and automatically file required documents.

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