Let's face it: Construction is a risky business. A major step in combating risk is identifying as many of its sources as you can.

Almost every contractor and builder has had to deal with problems arising from one or more of the following circumstances:

• The project owner delays payment.
• An estimator makes mistakes.
• The contractor cannot or does not reduce overhead fast enough in rough times.
• A subcontractor fails to perform as required, or goes broke.
• A supplier doesn't meet a critical schedule.
• The cost of certain materials spikes unexpectedly, or there is a material shortage.
• We have an …