Blog
Notes on the permitted pipeline
November 2, 2026
Field notes: the account we renewed for one more quarter, and the lot that stayed emptyTwo credit files, two permits, one lot that never broke ground. Field notes from a quarterly terms review on why the permit date isn't the draw date.
November 2, 2026
What is a notice of commencement, and why your credit desk should track itWhat a notice of commencement records, how its filing date starts lien-rights clocks, and why credit desks should track it alongside site activity.
October 26, 2026
Stop notice vs mechanics lien: which one protects a material supplier fasterA credit desk comparison of stop notices and mechanics liens: what each one freezes, how fast it works, and why neither tells you if the job is still running.
October 26, 2026
What is a joint check agreement, and when should a supplier ask for one?A credit analyst's plain-language guide to joint check agreements in building materials: what they protect, and the AR signals that mean it's time to ask.
October 19, 2026
Field notes: the builder with a spotless credit file and three permits gathering weedsA field-notes look at why a builder's spotless credit file and quiet permits don't mean the project is moving dirt.
October 19, 2026
How to read a UCC lien filing before extending credit to a homebuilderA credit analyst's guide to pulling and reading a UCC-1 against a homebuilder account, and why the filing won't tell you if the jobsite is moving.
October 14, 2026
How long do you have to file a mechanics lien as a material supplier?How long material suppliers have to file a mechanics lien, state deadlines, and how preliminary notice differs from the lien itself.
October 14, 2026
Lien waiver vs. lien release: what material suppliers need to knowA credit-side breakdown of lien waivers vs. lien releases, conditional vs. unconditional forms, and when to sign before shipping material.
October 13, 2026
How to check a GC's claimed start date against what's actually on siteA credit analyst's guide to verifying a contractor's reported mobilization date before extending terms or releasing material.
October 13, 2026
How to match a permit address to the actual job siteA step-by-step way to confirm a permit address lines up with the real parcel before you extend credit against it.
October 7, 2026
How to read a preliminary notice before you extend open account termsA credit analyst's guide to what a preliminary lien notice actually tells you, and what it doesn't, before setting open account terms.
October 7, 2026
How to size a credit line for a production homebuilderA method for setting builder credit limits using backlog, cycle time, and verified starts instead of raw permit counts.
October 7, 2026
What causes a building permit to expire before construction startsWhy permits go void before ground gets broken, how reactivation works, and why permit status alone won't tell you if a project is building.
October 7, 2026
What is a credit hold, and when do building material suppliers use one?A credit hold stops shipments to an account until a balance or site-risk issue clears, and when building material suppliers use one.