Construction Law Blog

Category: Construction Projects

Hiring a Contractor: Top 3 Things Every Homeowner Needs To Verify

Time and time again, homeowners hire fraudulent contractors without knowing so. There are many instances where the homeowner will hire a contractor without really knowing what they’re all about. Usually out of excitement, or desperation to complete unfinished work, homeowners will too often hire their contractor based off an estimate, without digging deeper as to the insurance status or legitimacy of the contractor’s business. With that said, what are the top 3 things every homeowner needs to verify before hiring a contractor and signing the contract? Continue reading “Hiring a Contractor: Top 3 Things Every Homeowner Needs To Verify”

Understanding Roles and Relationships of Construction Project Participants. Who Does What?

On October 17th, John Caravella was invited to speak at the AIA Contract Document Workshop where he was able to share his knowledge about Construction Contract Interpretation and Fundamentals. In this specific article, we share the Roles and Relationships of Construction Project Participants. This way, we can fully understand who really does what on a construction job site.

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Strings of a Marionette Puppet

Like the strings of a marionette puppet, after the completion of a New York construction project, there are various legal theories that serve as ties between the builder and the owner. For the builder, the sooner these lingering ties can be removed the less exposure they face for claims of defects. For the owners, the longer they are able to establish these connections, the longer they may have legal recourse against the builder for defects.

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Complying with the Rules and Regulations on the Practice of Architecture; Part 2 of 2 – Disciplinary Actions and Revocation of your Architectural License.

This is a continuing article series regarding Compliance with the Rules and Regulations on the Practice of Architecture. These include two topics, Requirements & Duties of Maintaining your Architectural License (Part 1), and Disciplinary Actions and Revocation of your Architectural License (Part 2). Continue reading “Complying with the Rules and Regulations on the Practice of Architecture; Part 2 of 2 – Disciplinary Actions and Revocation of your Architectural License.”

Complying with the Rules and Regulations on the Practice of Architecture; Part 1 of 2 – Requirements & Duties of Maintaining your Architectural License.

This is a continuing article series regarding Compliance with the Rules and Regulations on the Practice of Architecture. These include two topics, Requirements & Duties of Maintaining your Architectural License (Part 1), and Disciplinary Actions and Revocation of your Architectural License (Part 2).

Continue reading “Complying with the Rules and Regulations on the Practice of Architecture; Part 1 of 2 – Requirements & Duties of Maintaining your Architectural License.”

Protecting Yourself from Usury and Racketeering in Construction

Whenever we hear the terms Usury and Racketeering, we think of two things, organized crime, and the RICO Act. But did you know that these two terms are very common within the New York Construction industry? Whether you are a homeowner, a contractor or a commercial business owner, usury and racketeering come in many different shapes and sizes. What are the types of Construction Usury, and how can we protect ourselves?

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Understanding the Importance of Building Permits

What do you need a building permit for? This is one of the most common questions regarding construction. Building permits are both important and necessary and the failure to obtain one can cause major obstacles down the road.  Building permits are needed whenever a homeowner is altering or expanding their current home, installing a swimming pool, deck, shed or more.  Building permits are more important than you think, and here’s why!

 

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Construction Plans and Architectural Designs

It’s one thing to say what you want in your construction project, but it is another thing to properly document your dream design on paper in the form of legitimate construction plans. Within this article, you will have a better understanding of what is included in detailed construction plans, as well as the understanding of common symbols used in the architectural industry. Whether you are a project owner or contractor, always remember your construction drawings take precedence over performance specifications in the state of New York.

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Is It Worth It To Elevate Your Home?


One of the most common causes of home elevation is extreme weathering and flooding. In general, there are two options when deciding to elevate your home. The homeowner can physically lift the home, building a new foundation at the bottom, or leaving the home as is, but just building a “livable space” upper level, alternatively converting the ground level to a complete closure.

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4 Tips to Help You Build a Custom Home

This article was written by guest blogger Suzie Wilson.

When you build a custom home you get to bring your vision to life and create the house of your dreams from the ground up. However, it takes a lot of planning and careful decision-making to build a custom home, and there are several things you’ll need to get started. Finding the right professionals to help you create the house is essential, and from there you’ll need to create a plan in order to stay on task and on budget. Of course, you’ll also need to think about buying land in just the right spot, and that can be quite a job in itself. So, here are four tips to help you get started when you’re ready to build your dream home.

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