How to show schedule impact on a change order
Show schedule impact on a change order by writing the number of working days the change adds, the reason for each day, and the new completion date, right next to the added cost. The client then...
Show schedule impact on a change order by writing the number of working days the change adds, the reason for each day, and the new completion date, right next to the added cost. The client then approves time and money together, so a later delay never comes as a surprise.
Why the days matter as much as the dollars
Most change orders list only the added cost. A change almost always moves the schedule too. Swapping stock cabinets with a two-week lead time for custom cabinets with an eight-week lead time adds six weeks before the kitchen can be finished.
If the client approves the cost but never sees the six weeks, the delay feels like your fault later. The same change, with the days written down and approved, is just part of the plan.
What to write on every change order
- The working days the change adds, as a number.
- What drives those days: a lead time, an extra inspection, a trade that has to come back.
- The new expected completion date.
- The cost, broken into line items the client can follow.
- One line on what happens to the schedule if the client says no.
How to count the days
Count only the days that push the finish date. A change your crew can do while other work goes on may add cost and zero days. Say so anyway: "adds 0 working days" tells the client you checked.
Get the supplier's lead time in writing before you send the change order. Lead times move, and a date you can point to keeps the conversation about the supplier, not about you.
How SpecNook handles schedule impact
In SpecNook a change order carries its line items, its cost and its schedule impact on one page. The client reviews it in the client portal and approves or asks for changes from a phone or a computer, and you get a notification the moment they respond.
Approved changes roll into the project budget, so you and your client always see the running total. You can see how it works on the change order page.
Keep reading
For the whole process, from scope to signature, read how to handle change orders in construction. When you are ready to try it on a real job, compare the plans.
Frequently asked questions
Should a change order with no extra days still mention the schedule?
Yes. Writing that it adds 0 working days tells the client you checked, and it gives you a record if the schedule moves later for another reason.
What if the lead time changes after the client approves?
Send a new change order for the added days and name the reason, such as the supplier's new date. Keep the first approval as it is, so the record shows both.
Can clients approve a change order from their phone?
In SpecNook they can. The change order opens in the client portal on any device, with the cost and the schedule impact on one screen.