I was a builder. I never stiffed anyone in my life.
Unfortunately, I am the extreme exception. I can say that I have been stiffed by other builders, when I was sub-contracting, but never for very large amounts. I've been stiffed by home-owners, too, but again, the amount was not worth the trouble to put a lien on the property.
In Michigan, the law is very much against the Builder, when it comes to collecting from them. If they are building spec-homes, a lien absolutely stops a sale, until they pay you. My understanding is that you can also serve the notice to his customer, so that they know what kinda crap their builder is pulling. Whatever you do, send invoices to the builder at any and all addresses, including the building site, and send them registered, certified, return receipt, etc. You want that evidence, should the matter come before Magistrate or Judge. Make sure that the prospective homeowner (if there is a sale agreement) is also served the same way.
You want your money - you don't care who comes across with it. Once you have "perfected" a lien, do not, under any circumstances agree to discount the bill. Quite the contrary, start adding interest, and include the interest in each new billing statement, each month. Keep track of your expenses to collect, including filing fees, gas money, lost hours of work, stationaty supplies - be anal about it. You want a laundry list of things for him to argue with you about, in front of the magistrate or judge, should it come to that, and you want things that you can "take off" his bill, instead of discounting the original invoiced amount.
Go directly to the licensing agency, and look for assistance. Chances are, you won't be the first sub he's tried to screw, that's gone straight to the agency...the more complaints he gets, the more likely he is to have his license pulled.
Sit outside his jobsites with a kinko's enlarged to protest sign sized copy of the documant that he signed, when he hired you, stamped "OVERDUE", in big red letters. Don't discuss it with anyone but him, but just sit there, quietly, and wait. Trust me, the bastage will come to you, fast enough. He may even pay you extra to get you off his jobsite. Make sure you go with company - you want a witness, in case he starts something....videophones are a wonderful thing - record everything, and tell him you are doing it.
Finally, in Michigan, it's against the law to run a corporation from a PO box - you have to have a physical, permanent address. Your home is fine, if you don't want, or can't afford an office outside the home, but a permanent address has to be provided. I suspect that it may be the same in your state. If your builder is violating this rule, (assuming it is a rule for your state,) you may want to start making a fuss about the law, and his lack of compliance - the licensing agency might pull his license, until he corrects that matter. No license, no permits - no permits, no work, no money, no profit, no business....
Builders are not generally allowed to hide like pirates, only appearing in their trucks and vans when they see a chance for profit - but a great many of them do. If more tradesmen turned them in, instead of quietly whimpering, and going away, the industry would be a lot better off for it.
I hope you get your money, soon. If it doesn't come soon, I hope you are as tenacious as a bulldog, going after the builder.
Good Luck.
SiSafe
