Having a change order management system will save time and help prevent client misunderstandings.
Collecting payment for change orders isn't difficult, as long as you have a clear process and you make clients aware of it early in the remodeling process.
Remodelers can save themselves a lot of trouble by ensuring that they define a clear change-order process and closely adhere to it.
TIM FALLER: Should you ask your lead carpenter to estimate and present change orders?
Pre-construction preparation using a detailed line-item spreadsheet helps build a more accurate estimate and reduce the number of change orders.
Tim Faller: There really is no such thing as a fast track. Skipping steps from planning to production can be costly.
Allison Iantosca: A gentle nudge can be more powerful than a raised voice when it comes to getting employees to change their work habits.
With homeowners still wielding the bulk of negotiating power, remodelers must be able to plant their feet diplomatically.
By leveraging the day-to-day contact your production staff have with homeowners, you can build trust, improve profits, and sail through change orders.
In early 2007, Renewal Construction began its “Guaranteed Renovation” program, which promises clients that their project will be “substantially complete” by a specified target date, barring certain unforeseen disasters such as a hurricane or tornado.