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ChangeOrderBuilder 1.0

Scope changed. Now prove it. Upload your original specs and the revision. ChangeOrderBuilder compares them line-by-line, identifies what’s different, calculates the cost impact, and generates professional change order documentation that protects your margins and gets client approval.

ChangeOrderBuilder compares original contract specifications against revised scope documents to identify material additions, deletions, labor impacts, and coordination requirements. You upload the baseline scope you bid from and the new requirements—whether it’s an RFI response, ASI, revised drawing, or verbal directive—and the system analyzes what changed. It returns a line-item breakdown of added materials, removed scope credits, labor hour adjustments, and timeline implications.

The tool generates professional change order documentation with pricing justification tied directly to the specification delta. It calculates cost impacts based on material differences, labor productivity changes, and coordination requirements with other trades. The output includes supporting narrative that explains why the change costs what it costs, formatted for submittal to owners and architects. Change orders are tracked cumulatively per project so you can monitor budget and schedule impacts over time.

The Stakes

Scope creep is where contractors lose money—not because they can’t do the work, but because they can’t prove what changed or justify the cost increase fast enough. By the time you realize the owner added acoustic performance requirements or upgraded finishes, you’re either eating the cost or fighting an uphill battle for approval with incomplete documentation.

Most contractors know when scope has changed, but they struggle to document it quickly and professionally. Without a clear comparison between original and revised requirements, change orders get rejected, delayed, or negotiated down. ChangeOrderBuilder exists because “we talked about this on site” is not a change order strategy.

ChangeOrderBuilder 1.0

Turns vague scope creep into contractual cash flow. Analyzes what was promised versus what’s being requested, calculates legitimate cost impacts, writes justifications referenced to contract documents, and generates professional COs that get approved and paid fast.

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How to try ChangeOrderBuilder:

Material Substitution Cost Delta

Calculates the full cost impact of material upgrades including labor, coordination, and installation complexity to support accurate change order pricing.
“Owner wants to change from standard hollow metal doors to high-performance acoustic doors on 8 classroom doors. Original spec: 1-3/4″ HM doors, 18-gauge frames, standard hardware. New requirement: STC 45-rated acoustic doors with premium seals and heavy-duty hinges. Calculate: 1. Material cost difference per door 2. Additional labor for acoustic seal installation 3. Any coordination impacts (thicker doors = frame modifications?) 4. Total change order cost for 8 doors. Generate a professional change order with justification that shows why the premium is necessary.”

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Fire Rating Upgrade

Documents owner-directed specification changes with cost justification and schedule impacts to protect against claims of contractor error.
“Architect issued RFI response changing 6 doors from 20-minute rated to 90-minute rated due to occupancy classification change. Original scope: 20-minute labeled doors with standard panic hardware. New scope: 90-minute labeled doors with fire-rated panic hardware and smoke seals. Compare original vs. revised scope and calculate: 1. Cost delta for 90-min rated doors vs. 20-min 2. Upgraded hardware requirements (panic devices, hinges) 3. Additional testing/certification costs 4. Schedule impact (longer lead time for 90-min doors). Generate change order showing this is an owner-directed change, not our error.”

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Electrified Hardware Addition

Identifies all components of electrified hardware upgrades and multi-trade coordination requirements to ensure complete scope capture and proper pricing.
“Owner added card reader access control to 4 doors that were originally specified as mechanical locksets only. Original: Standard mortise locksets, closers, hinges. New: Electric strikes, power transfer hinges, door position switches, REX buttons, coordinate with Division 28 security system. Calculate change order for: 1. Electrified hardware upgrade (strike, power transfer, DPS) 2. Additional rough-in coordination with Division 26 3. Programming/integration time with Division 28 4. Extended schedule for submittal coordination. Show that this is added scope, not included in base bid.”

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Hardware Finish Change Across Multiple Doors

Captures often-overlooked costs like restocking fees and lead time impacts when architects change aesthetic specifications after bidding.
“Architect issued ASI changing all door hardware finish from satin chrome (US26D) to oil-rubbed bronze (US10B) across 42 doors. Original bid: Satin chrome locksets, hinges, closers, pulls, and panic devices. New requirement: Oil-rubbed bronze finish on all hardware. Calculate change order for: 1. Cost delta between satin chrome and oil-rubbed bronze finishes 2. Any lead time impacts (ORB typically has longer lead times) 3. Restocking fees or cancellation costs for already-ordered chrome hardware 4. Schedule impact if this delays the hardware submittal approval. Generate change order showing this is a design change, not a substitution request from our side.”

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ADA Automatic Door Opener Addition

Documents code compliance changes that arise during permitting or inspection, protecting against claims that requirements were obvious from original documents.
“Building inspector required automatic door openers on 3 main entrance doors during plan review due to updated ADA interpretation. Original scope: Manual doors with ADA-compliant hardware (lever handles, proper opening force). New requirement: Low-energy automatic operators with push-button activation and safety sensors. Calculate change order for: 1. Automatic door operator equipment (3 doors) 2. Electrical rough-in and connection (coordinate with Division 26) 3. Additional blocking/structural support for operators 4. Extended schedule for submittal, shop drawings, and electrical coordination. Show this is a code-driven addition, not base contract scope.”

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Product Substitution Due to Submittal Rejection

Protects contractors when architects reject legitimate equal substitutions after contract award, documenting the cost and schedule impact of late specification enforcement.
“Our submitted door hardware was rejected by the architect as ‘not equal’ to specified manufacturers. We bid Manufacturer A (approved equal per spec). Architect now insists on Manufacturer B (spec basis of design) with no substitutions allowed. Original: Manufacturer A locksets, closers, and exit devices at bid pricing. New requirement: Manufacturer B products (15-20% price premium, 2-week longer lead time). Calculate change order for: 1. Cost difference between Manufacturer A and Manufacturer B 2. Schedule impact (extended lead time) 3. Re-submittal costs and engineering time 4. Any restocking fees from cancelled Manufacturer A order. Generate change order showing we bid per specification allowance for approved equals, architect’s rejection creates cost increase.”

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SpecFinder 1.0

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SpecFinder 1.0

Try Specfinder