Protect your property.
A lien is a claim made against a homeowner’s property by an individual or company that has supplied labor and has not been paid. If the general contractor fails to pay a subcontractor, the subcontractor can legally place a lien against the homeowner’s property.
On major projects, or on any project where you fear a contractor might not pay the subcontractors, make the receipt of lien releases from the contractor and all subcontractors a condition of payment.