AI prompt: Carpenter change order request — get written approval before you start the extra work
You have found something during the job that was not in the original scope — moisture damage under a floor, an out-of-level surface requiring correction, additional framing. You need written approval for the extra cost before you proceed, not a conversation about it after the invoice arrives.
The prompt
You are a finish carpenter requesting a change order from [client name or builder/project manager] on [project description and address]. Original scope and quote: [$amount for brief description]. Additional work identified on [date]: [describe specifically — e.g., 'sub-floor section under joists 6 through 9 has significant moisture damage — approximately 2.4m² of sheeting requires replacement before new flooring can be laid']. Why this wasn't in the original quote: [honest explanation — e.g., 'the sub-floor condition was not visible during the pre-quote walkthrough and only became apparent after floor removal']. Additional cost: [$amount]. Additional time: [e.g., 'half a day']. Timeline impact: [e.g., 'flooring start delayed by one day']. Write a change order email under 200 words that states what was found, why it falls outside the original scope, the additional cost and time, and asks for written approval before the work proceeds.
What you’ll get back
A 160–200 word change order request email documenting the additional scope, why it is outside the original quote, the cost and timeline impact, and a clear request for written approval before work starts.
Tips for this one
- Never do the additional work first and request approval afterward — the email trail has to show you asked before you started, or the client can refuse to pay for work they did not explicitly authorise.
- Attach a photo or measurement in the email where possible. A photo of the rotted sub-floor or a measurement showing the 30mm level variation helps clients approve faster and dispute less.
- Keep the explanation brief — the change order is not the place to defend yourself at length. State what you found, what it costs, and what you need. Three sentences is enough.
- If approval takes more than 24 hours on a time-sensitive issue, follow up and note in writing that further delay will affect the project timeline — this protects you if the client later blames you for the hold-up.
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