Mechanic's lien
A lien filed by a contractor or supplier who didn't get paid for work on the property. Comes up often on homes that had recent renovations.
Your Room opens on this part of the sale, with the offer and everything before it already ticked.
Organize my saleFree to set up. Pay once when you list: $89 or $189. 7-day refund.
See how it worksWhere this comes up in a sale, and what follows
- Buyer's inspection (comes before)
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
A contractor or supplier who was not paid for work on your home can file a lien, and a recent renovation is where they come from. Lien waivers from each trade are what keep a finished job from becoming a title problem.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your kitchen remodel finished in March. The cabinet supplier was never paid by the contractor and files a $6,500 lien in May, weeks before closing.
| What you have | What follows |
|---|---|
| Signed lien waivers from every trade | The lien is contested and usually released |
| A paid invoice to the general contractor only | The supplier's claim is real; it is paid or bonded at closing |
| No paperwork | The amount is held from your proceeds until it is settled |
You can pay the contractor in full and still owe the supplier. Lien waivers are the proof that everyone was paid.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That paying the general contractor protects you. Subcontractors and suppliers can lien the home for what the general did not pass on.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Your Room defines mechanic's lien in the step you meet it in, beside the document or the date it belongs to. Free to set up, with an agent or on your own.
Organize my saleFree to set up. Pay once when you list: $89 or $189. 7-day refund.