legal MECHANICS' LIENS
Don't Keep Recent Construction or Renovations a Secret BY: RICK POE | ATTORNEY, LANCASTER, TROTTER & POE, PLLC
Sally is a very successful agent who specializes in marketing and selling homes in the close-in and highly desirable neighborhoods of one of the largest cities in North Carolina. Most of the homes in these neighborhoods are in the process of being fixed up and substantially improved by their owners, and those that have not yet been updated are being targeted by investors who want to flip them. Here is a recent exchange of emails with her favorite attorney, Ron. SALLY: Hey Ron! Just got your email asking me about my Spring Street listing and if I knew how much, if any, the current owner has spent improving it. I will be glad to try to find out, but why are you asking? RON: Well Sally, under the recently revised N.C. lien law, any construction or renovation project that 8 INSIGHT • February 2018
exceeds $30,000 carries with it a requirement that the owner/contractor appoint a Mechanic’s Lien Agent and register that appointment on the liensnc.com website. Once that is done, any contractor or subcontractor that performs work or supplies materials to that project site is supposed to register its claim on the project site. All registered contractors must sign