Tag: surety bond

June 20, 2016

The Importance of a Work In Process Schedule for the Contracting Company and the Surety Company

A Work in Process schedule (WIP) helps contractors document the progress of their project.  A WIP also helps the surety company to evaluate the progress of the project as well.  A well-documented WIP can help the contracting company earn future approval for surety bonds. In a general WIP, some of the things documented are the contract price, billings to date, costs incurred to date, estimated completion cost and estimated gross profit. These help the contractor show that they are completing the project on time and without additional costs. The reasons a WIP is important for a surety company is that it helps to monitor profitability, any errors and profit fade and gains that may happen.  The surety company is also able to evaluate billing practices of the contracting company.  A WIP also helps to back up the contractor’s financial strength on the project. It is important to have Certified Public Accountant (CPA) organize the contractor’s financial records, to provide to the surety company. Summary: A WIP is important for both the contractor to stay on schedule and document any shortcomings.  It is important also for the surety company to monitor and evaluate progress and any discrepancies. A proficient WIP can help...

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June 15, 2016

Warning Signs that may Deter your Bond being Processed

Many contractors find that the surety bond process can be complex. But, having a competent and knowledgeable surety bond producer is the first step to making sure your project will get underway. By answering the following questions, a contractor may be able to determine if there may be a delay in approval. Questions to Consider: 1. Is there already a claim open with the current surety? If another application has not yet been approved, that may be a warning sign that there is a reason for the delay. The best way to correct this is to (a) resolve any issues with the surety bond claim and (b) work with the surety bond producer, if both parties cannot resolve the issue on their own. 2. Is the project within the realm of the contractor’s expertise? If not, the underwriter may worry that the lack of  understanding of the project may delay it.  The best way to remedy this is to explain why the contractor is bidding on the project, how the contractor will avoid and/or solve any potential risks and why the contractor is seeking this particular project. 3. Is the project outside of the home turf? If the contractor is bidding on a...

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