Mechanics' Liens 211 



shall have a lien for the principal and interest 

 of the value or the agreed price of such labor 

 or materials, upon the property improved and 

 the improvements, from the time that notice of 

 lien is filed. 



This lien will extend to and hold the owner's 

 right or interest in the property and improve- 

 ments existing at the time of filing the notice 

 of lien. The lien will follow the property if it 

 is removed, sold or transferred at any time after 

 the notice is filed, and the owner's interest as 

 it was at the time of the filing stands as security 

 for the payment, notwithstanding the sale or 

 removal of the property. But, if the labor or 

 materials were furnished to a contractor or sub- 

 contractor, instead of directly to the owner, then 

 the lien will not be for a sum greater than that 

 earned by the principal contractor but unpaid 

 to him on the contract at the time the notice 

 was filed. But payments made by the owner 

 before they are due under the contract, so as 

 to defeat a mechanics' lien, will be of no effect 

 as against a lien filed before the payments 

 actually become due under the contract. 



In order to secure such a lien as is above 

 described, the person claiming it should file a 

 notice of lien at some time during the progress 

 of the work, or the furnishing of the materials, 

 or within a limited period (frequently ninety 



