While one of my missions in life is to assist contractors, I often hear from attorneys and others with questions about construction industry issues. First, I field a question and ‘kickback’ new guidance on getting paid for ‘referrals.’ We also…
I’m back to work with a ‘jolt’ of renewed energy! Good thing, as our first contractor has an electrical problem. For some contractors work has been scarce and many are looking at options for expanding their base. Some are exploring…
One of my greatest pleasures is hearing from readers who often respond to a particular column they’ve read. Here’s some feedback from readers like you… In a recent column your answer to the question on the HAZ CERTIFICATION is…
If you are not a regular reader, you may not know that you can access this column and others going back years with a single word search on my website, which our first contractor found useful… Q: First, let me…
As an expert I often find myself correcting mistaken impressions, outdated ideas or erroneous ‘knowledge’ because the complex rules of contracting are not ‘concrete’ but change over time. It’s practically a full time job to keep up! In this session,…
Consumers may consider hiring a ‘handyman’ but how do the rules apply when a licensed contractor hires them? I help a license qualifier find his way forward after walking away from a job. Finally, of interest to all, is our…
Like rising summer temperatures, optimism is on the upswing as contractors begin to see opportunity again in the Golden State. Our first question comes from one such an optimistic Californian. Another contractor actually answers his own question, but for everyone’s…
You likely won’t know them, hear about them or see them, but CSLB investigators are waiting to ‘sting’ criminals pretending to be contractors in CA. As State budgets are impacted by reductions across the board, SWIFT agents are allying with…
It’s nice to know people benefit regularly from our back and forth. Helping contractors overcome challenges is one of the primary goals of this Q&A. Readers also know where to find answers they need when questions come up. This contractor’s…
Life is full of questions. The answers are often difficult to know without a resource to consult. For contractors these questions often make the difference in profit or loss, especially when interpretations may vary or seem illogical to most. Success…