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Dear YouDig? Archives

6.20.17

Construction Contract Forms – a “Sea of Misery”

Dear YouDig?,

These AIA construction contract forms are ridiculous. Draft after draft, I mark it up and send it back. They mark it up and return it to me. Their lawyer makes more changes. My lawyer accepts some and rejects others. Red-lines, blue-lines, green-lines, orange-lines, additions and deletions. It goes on and on and on. With all those colors and an alphabet full of initials, it takes a super computer to figure out who is who, who wrote what and when they wrote it. We want to start building our project–not play word games. What is the solution?

– Splash

6.5.17

Design Build – Are Two Hats Better than One?

Dear YouDig?

As an architectural firm we love design, but… we don’t get our hands dirty too much. We also love to grow our business.  We have the opportunity to merge with a prominent construction firm to establish a single design build entity.  Can these two cultures co-exist?

-Pre-Nup?

4.17.17

Construction and Connectivity ~ YouDig?

Construction and Connectivity ~ YouDig?

Dear Readers,

When we launched one year ago, the number one question we received was…

3.21.17

What Should I Do if a Project Goes Belly Up?

What Should I Do if a Project Goes Belly Up?

Dear YouDig?

In 2016, we defeated several of our competitors to win the bid to be the general contractor on a large strip center project in Ohio. Several big box tenants are involved. We popped the champagne as the project seemed to be a huge win and very lucrative for us.

For several months the pay application and change order process went on without a hitch. Then suddenly in the fall of 2016, we started to get the old-fashioned run around. Payments became slow and then stopped. Our attempts to get change orders signed were delayed or ignored altogether. Our chummy relationship with the owners became tense and then radio silence. Clearly, we are receiving the cold shoulder.

Numerous subcontractors and material suppliers are on the project awaiting payment and instructions. We can’t get intelligence from the owner or its bank.

-Gotta Go!

3.7.17

Mechanics Liens or a Leap of Faith

Mechanics Liens or a Leap of Faith

Dear YouDig?

We are building an addition to our church. We believe we have hired a great contractor who is experienced in building facilities for religious institutions. Regardless, we are wary of mechanics’ liens, and our financing bank seems hung up on keeping the property free of liens. Is there anything we can do to minimize the possibility of mechanics liens? We want to make sure our property stays clear of any liens throughout the project. What more can we do beyond trust our builder?

– Man of Faith