Construction & Real Estate
Showing 1265–1279 of 1279 results
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5 ways to strengthen your surety relationship
March / April 2008
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 563
Abstract: Call it a “necessary evil” or “the cost of doing business.” However one looks at it, for most contractors, bonding is a fact of life. One way to keep your bonding capacity strong is to maintain a strong relationship with your surety. This article provides five ways to do just that.
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Get a handle on your supply chain with materials management software
March / April 2008
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 520
Abstract: Sad tales of lost or never-received supplies are heard all too often on construction sites everywhere. Fortunately, today’s materials management software can help contractors get a handle on their supply chains — and save money in the process. This article outlines the features of materials management software.
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Don’t count on profitability – Cash flow management often matters more
March / April 2008
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1033
Abstract: Every business has its slow periods, but construction companies are particularly susceptible to ebbs and flows in income. For this reason, cash flow management often matters more to contractors than profitability. This article offers some savvy strategies for maintaining strong cash flow. (Updated 3/23/12)
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Criminal actions: An extreme case of kiting funds
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Construction Law Briefing
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 285
Abstract: This brief article notes the criminal dangers of kiting funds — a practice that often violates the terms of any standard construction contract. United States v. Munoz-Franco, 487 F.3d 25 (2007) Puerto Rico 1st Circuit (2007).
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Got insurance paperwork? Don’t let it slide
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Construction Law Briefing
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 516
Abstract: Any principal on a construction project probably knows the importance of accurately completing any insurance paperwork involved. But neglecting to follow up with an insurance agent or provider after requesting coverage could create problems as well. This article looks into a recent case that provides a prime example. Adams v. Western States Insurance, 2007 WL 2071548 (D. Ore. 2007).
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Contractors may face new public safety liability
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Construction Law Briefing
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 478
Abstract: It’s fairly safe to say that most general contractors know that they must secure their job sites to protect not only those who work there, but also the general public. Yet a recent lawsuit against the Washington, D.C., public transit authority could signal the development of a new kind of legal liability related to public safety. This article explains the details.
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Subcontractor focus – Miller Act time limits may affect payment contingency
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Construction Law Briefing
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 870
Abstract: In the hope of shifting away some of the risk of a government’s refusal to pay general contractors on public projects often insert so-called “pay when paid” clauses in their subcontracts. Recent federal court decisions based on the Miller Act, however, limit a payment bond surety’s ability to use “pay when paid” clauses. This article examines one example of these limitations in a recent West Virginia case, and a sidebar looks at a similar decision.
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Seeing a claim through to fruition requires an eye for details
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Construction Law Briefing
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 612
Abstract: One might assume that a claim for “differing site conditions” would cover items such as additional pile depths and the removal and replacement of unsuitable subsurface material under slab-on-grade floors. This article looks at a case involving the Army Corps of Engineers and a storage base in Israel that shows a court might not make the same assumption.
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Construction Success Story – VoIP helps one contractor lower expenses
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 392
Abstract: While meeting with his financial advisor to discuss escalating expenses, a roofing and siding contractor in a growing suburban area mentioned that his telephone bills seemed to be growing exponentially each quarter. One potential solution that came to the advisor’s mind almost immediately was a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system — a technology that digitizes phone calls, allowing them to be transmitted via the Internet.
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Crackdown on illegal hiring looms
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 563
Abstract: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau data show that foreign-born workers are critical to the construction industry. Problem is, contractors often can’t — or don’t — verify that their employees are eligible to work in the United States. And, as this article warns, Uncle Sam is starting to take more notice.
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Stay in the driver’s seat with sound fleet management
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 532
Abstract: One of the many questions that cost-conscious contractors often struggle with is how to manage their company vehicles. How often should they be replaced? How should hours of use be accurately tracked? Are vehicles costing too much? This article explains how sound fleet management can help answer critical questions such as these and, ideally, save contractors money. (Updated 3/23/12)
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Is your business structure still a perfect fit?
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 674
Abstract: Most contractors wouldn’t dream of allowing a construction project to run unsupervised according to the original plans, because circumstances can change. The same is true of business structure: The ownership form that was once a perfect fit may eventually need to be adjusted. Beginning with the two most popular choices, this article provides a snapshot of each. (Updated 3/23/12)
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Tax planning for 2008 and beyond – Looking forward by looking back
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 839
Abstract: As a new calendar year begins, construction business owners may want to look back to last year for some strategic planning cues. For example, the Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007 (SBWOTA) included more than $4.8 billion in tax breaks for businesses. This article demonstrates how SBWOTA offers contractors some opportunities to plan strategically for this year and beyond.
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The times they are a-changin’ – New risk-assessment standards will affect your annual audit
Winter 2008
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 728
Abstract: If yours is a privately held construction business, get ready: Your CPA will be taking a closer look at your 2007 year end financial statements. This article delves into the new risk-assessment standards issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in March 2006. The new standards are the most significant change to auditing in the last 30 years, and they will affect CPAs and contractors alike.
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Retainage: Necessary practice or unfair penalty?
Winter 2008
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 890
Abstract: Imagine a doctor’s response if patients said they wouldn’t pay the full cost of their annual physicals until they were convinced of their good health. The doctor would probably see it as a joke. Yet, under the practice of retainage, construction project owners do this all the time. This article explores the topic from both sides of the issue and discusses some possible remedies that you may want to implement on your next project.