Scope creep and change orders
Reasonable requests and decision speed are two of the five stars, and together they predict change-order pain.
The 'while you're here' problem, scored
Reasonable requests and decision speed are two of the five stars, and together they predict change-order pain.
A customer who cannot decide on a fixture for three weeks and then wants the tile moved after it is set costs more than a low bid ever saves. Union Break scores both halves of that: how quickly a customer makes decisions, and how reasonable their requests were once work started.
Read the narratives, not just the stars. Members write what actually happened — the extra room added mid-job, the change order fought line by line — so you can see whether the pattern is likely to repeat on your scope.
Does a slow-decision score mean I should skip the job?
Not necessarily. It means you should build float and written approvals into the schedule, and avoid holding your crew on standby without a stocking fee.
Can I file a report on a job I finished last year?
Yes. Reports are dated by submission, and older jobs are still useful history as long as the account is firsthand.
Searches worth running
- change order
Reports where change orders were the issue.
- scope
Jobs that grew after the contract was signed.
- punch list
Endless punch lists at closeout.
Other topics
- Customers who pay late
Pays on time is one of the five stars every report scores, and it is the star that sinks the most jobs.
- Good customers to work for
The top band on Union Break means the crew would take the call again.
- Jobsite reviews by trade
A roofer's two-day job and a remodeler's eight-week job are rated by very different pressures.