Question: A contractor wants me to sign a Partial Release form on a job he hasn’t paid me for yet. Doesn’t that put me at risk of not collecting the money if I’m not really paid after I sign the release form? – Greg Storn

Answer: The good news here is that there is an easy solution to this issue. There are four different legal documents that apply to contracted work: 4. Unconditional Release Upon Final Payment

The only “condition” of a Conditional Release is that the release is valid only if the money specified on the release is paid to the contractor. In other words, if you are 50% complete with a $10,000 job, you can safely sign a Conditional Release Upon Progress Payment for $5,000. If you aren’t paid the $5,000, the release is not valid and you have not given up any of your lien rights to this money.

On the other hand, if you sign and Unconditional Release, you have just given up your rights to whatever amount of money that was on the Unconditional Release from. So the rule is, don’t sigh an Unconditional Release from until the money you are releasing is in your bank account. I’m not talking about a check in your hand, either. I’m saying that you should never sign an unconditional release until that check has cleared and the funds are literally in your bank account.

Some or my company’s corporate clients always ask for a release before they will pay an invoice. No problem, we just send them a Conditional Release Upon Progress Payment or a Conditional Release Upon Final Payment. Later, after their check has cleared into our bank account, we will (if they ask) follow up with an Unconditional Release.

By the way, Conditional Release forms protect both the client and the contractor. If a client gets a Conditional Release form a contractor, they know that they are protected from getting a lien from that contractor, but only if they actually pay the contractor the money specified on the lien.

Click here to visit our website.

Dallas Electrician‘s Top Electrical Installation Tips for New Home Owners

Buying a home is a wonderful investment, and your home will be your sanctuary for years to come. Of course you want your home to be perfect; no home owner dreams of such things as a flood or an electrical problem. However, these problems do occur, and while flooding may not be preventable, you can always take the necessary steps to prevent electrical problems. If you plan on installing electronics in your home, electrical safety should be one of your top concerns. Electrical fires can cause irreparable damage to your home, but Dallas electricians like ElectricMan Inc. can help correct your existing electrical problems or provide assistance with installation.

There are ways to prevent electrical problems in a new home, and the electricians at ElectricMan can help, so consult someone knowledgeable before you begin your home improvement. What are some ways to prevent electric fires in your home?

There are over 53,000 electric fires in the U.S. each year, but these can easily be prevented with the help of a whole house surge protector. Surge protectors prevent the discharge of excess electricity due to lightening storms or blown circuits. If your home is prone to electrical surges, a whole house surge protector may be just what you need to prevent an electrical fire.

A GFCI outlet is a device which increases safety by reducing the risk of electric shocks. Most building codes now require that GFCI outlets be installed in wet areas like bathrooms, kitchens, garages, laundry rooms, and outdoor areas. GFCI outlets monitor for current imbalances and break the circuit if such an imbalance occurs. They are an important safety measure and should be installed whenever there is water and electricity.

Did you know that 30% of all surges and outages are caused by lightning strikes? These lightning strikes don’t even need to hit your home directly to cause major damage. In fact, just a strike within a half mile radius can cause permanent damage to your appliances. Installing AFCIs in your home are just one of the ways to lessen the side effects of voltage surges, and prevent residential fires. Indeed, 50% of residential fires could have been prevented, according to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

If you use any of the tips we provided, you are already on the right track to living carefree in your new home. And if some of these tips seem too complicated, we are only a phone call away.

Are there any tips that you’d like to add to the list? Post in the comments. We’d like to hear what you have to say. 

If you live in a home that was built more than 40 years ago, you may have noticed your house isn’t quite keeping up with your needs. 40 years ago, we were not quite so fortunate to have all the gadgets and goodies we have today. Our lives have been streamlined and made much easier with all the technological advances that have been made in the last couple of decades. Unfortunately, older homes are typically not equipped to handle today’s modern devices. You need a Santa Monica electrician, like those at The Electric Connection.

It is possible to bring your home up to speed by updating your electric panel. An electrician will need to do an inspection to determine whether or not an upgrade is necessary. An electric panel is where the electric from the power company comes into your home. The various breakers direct the power to different areas of your home. If there is enough room in your existing electric panel, an electrician can go about adding a couple of outlets to meet your needs.

If the panel isn’t ready to have new breakers installed to support new outlets or high-powered appliances, you will need a panel upgraded by an electrician. Santa Monica residents who opt to have an upgrade will have the luxury of adding additional outlets and powering more electrical equipment. If you are not sure your electric panel is adequate, one of the signs is tripping breakers. If breakers regularly trip, it is likely due to them being weak or overloaded. Flickering lights are another sign of a strained electric panel. There is no time like the present to bring your home into the 21st century so you can take advantage of everything the technological world has to offer. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your electric panel inspection.