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Dawn Killough

About Dawn Killough
Dawn Killough is a freelance writer in the construction industry. She has over 20 years of experience with construction payments, from the perspectives of
subcontractors and general contractors. Dawn has held roles such as a staff accountant, green building advisor, project assistant, and contract
administrator.  Her work for general contractors, design firms, and subcontractors has even led to the publication of blogs on several construction tech
websites and her book, Green Building Design 101.
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Dawn Killough's Recent Answers
Jul 3, 2020
Jul 3, 2020
From an Anonymous Contractor
Oregon
Dawn Killough
I would ask the contractor to provide you with a breakdown of the additional charges. You can withhold payment until you receive a breakdown (send via
email so you have a record). You can ask for the names of the suppliers, but if the contractor doesn't want to provide their names, there isn't much you can
do. Suppliers only have 75 days from the last day of work to file a lien in Oregon, so keep that in mind. This situation is a good illustration of why a See More...
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Jun 15, 2020
From an Anonymous Contractor
ArizonaMechanics Lien
Dawn Killough
I'm not totally familiar with the law in Arizona, but generally an owner may bond off a lien. If that is done, you will need to get the bond information and file a
claim with their bonding company if payment is not made. Here's an article you can read about what bonding off a lien means:
https://www.levelset.com/blog/dont-be-afraid-of-threats-to-bond-off-your-mechanics-lien/.
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Jun 15, 2020
From an Anonymous Contractor
Utah
Dawn Killough
I would go back to your original contract with the property management company and see what dispute resolution process is specified there, then file a claim
through that process. You can also file a lien, if you processed all the required documentation to keep your lien rights intact (preliminary notices, etc). Other
options would include small claims court or filing a lawsuit in civil court (depending on the amount owed). Check your contract first, though.
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May 27, 2020
From an Anonymous Contractor
New YorkLien Foreclosure
Dawn Killough
Most states have a foreclosure procedure that is used to actually collect the amount of the lien. You will need to contact an attorney to help you file this
lawsuit. Some states have a deadline that you need to meet in order to foreclose, so make sure you are within that window. Once the lien has been
foreclosed on, the owner will either need to pay the amount owed or sell their property to satisfy the amount owed. An attorney could give you mSee More...
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May 27, 2020
From an Anonymous Contractor
California
Dawn Killough
Usually, supervisors are exempt from prevailing wage. However, if they perform manual labor and supervision, there is a cap on how much labor they can
perform before they are subject to prevailing wage. I would review the prevailing wage regulations for California to see what that cap is.
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Dawn's Recent Articles
By: Dawn Killough |
Construction activity is incredibly intensive work — creating the built environment is inherently disruptive to the natural environment. Governments balance
the needs of both by requiring contractors, property owners, and others involved in construction to mitigate the effect of building activity on the eSee More...
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By: Dawn Killough |
Safety is a contractor’s number one priority. In order to keep workers safe, contractors must first identify potential hazards, then determine how to control or
prevent them. A job safety analysis, also called a JSA, enables contractors to identify potentially hazardous tasks and provide controls to mitigate oSee More...
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By: Dawn Killough |
Who pays for damages caused by faulty work or materials? If a contractor’s work fails after a project is complete, completed operations insurance can help
cover some of the expenses. It is sold as an extension to your general liability insurance policy and may be required by the state you work in or thSee More...
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By: Dawn Killough |
When it comes to protecting your contracting business from claims and lawsuits, it can be tough to know what type of insurance you should purchase. Small
companies can’t afford to pay for coverage they don’t need, so it’s important to know which policies you do need. Liability insurance protects yourSee More...
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By: Dawn Killough |
Business owners can learn a lot about their companies by using key performance indicators, or KPIs. These data points provide insight into the profitability of
a company and give owners an early indication of potential issues. Architectural business consultant Lucas Gray of Charette Venture Group recomSee More...
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