Turn rough field notes, photos, or texts from the owner into a defensible signed-ready change order with cause classification, T&M or lump sum pricing, and protective clause language.
$3.99
Works in Claude (Pro/Max/Team) or ChatGPT (Plus/Team) · paid AI plan required
✓Both Claude + ChatGPT packages included — you can't pick the wrong one.
Updated
Included
01Builds the full document — header, scope, cause, cost table, schedule impact, waiver, signature block — in one shot
02Cost breakdown by line: burdened labor by trade, materials, sub markup at 10%, O&P at 15%, mobilization, PM time
03Classifies cause correctly (owner-directed, differing site condition, design error, AHJ, VE) with protective clause language
04Schedule clause for every scenario — zero impact, time extension, disruption, owner-directed acceleration with overtime premiums
05Retroactive CO support when work was done on verbal authorization, including ratification language and notice-of-claim deadlines
06Outputs a print-ready HTML change order plus a Contractor Notes section flagging risks the GC should resolve before signing
What it does
Every dispute that costs a small GC money traces back to a CO that was verbal, vague, or never written. This skill turns whatever you've got — bullet notes, a forwarded text from the owner, a sub's quote, a photo description — into a complete construction change order template you can print, sign, and collect on.
Feed it the work, the cause, and any cost or schedule info you have. It builds a full lump sum or T&M change order: precise scope language (named area, trade, spec section), cause classified into the right category with the protective clause that establishes entitlement, line-item cost table with burdened labor rates by trade, sub markup at 10%, O&P at 15%, mobilization and PM time, and a schedule impact clause whether the change adds days, zero days, or requires owner-directed acceleration. Signature block and waiver-and-integration clause included.
Five bundled references cover pricing (RSMeans-grade rate ranges by trade, workers' comp loads, common pricing errors), cause classification with protective language, schedule clauses for every scenario including disruption claims, dispute defense for the five most common owner objections, and three full example COs (owner-directed lump sum, differing site condition for concealed rot, T&M with NTE for exploratory demo). If the owner pushes back, the skill knows the counter-arguments cold.
Frequently asked
How do I write a change order that an owner can't dispute?
The skill writes scope language that names the specific area, trade, and spec section being deviated from (not 'additional work as discussed'), classifies the cause into the legally-defensible category with protective clause language, builds the cost from burdened labor rates by trade up through O&P, and includes a schedule clause for every scenario. Plus a Contractor Notes section flagging risks before you send it.
Can I write a retroactive change order for work I already did on verbal authorization?
Yes. The skill produces a retroactive CO with ratification language explaining work was performed in reliance on the owner's verbal direction, with field tickets attached as Exhibit A. It also flags the AIA A201 §15.1.3 21-day notice-of-claim deadline so you don't lose entitlement, and reminds you not to sign a lien waiver for any period that includes disputed CO work.
What overhead and profit percentage should I charge on a change order?
Industry standard is 15% O&P on own labor and materials, 10% on subcontractor costs, 10-15% on equipment. The skill applies those defaults but bumps higher when the change is justified — 25-50% labor premium for emergency or after-hours work, 20-30% for hazmat (asbestos, lead). All flagged inline. You can override if your contract has stipulated markup caps (common on GMP).
Does it handle T&M change orders or only lump sum?
Both. T&M output includes a Not-to-Exceed amount (always — open-ended T&M is a collection problem), a rate schedule by trade, daily field ticket language, and a stop-and-notify clause if conditions push beyond the NTE. Lump sum output uses the full-and-final-settlement waiver. The skill picks the right structure based on whether your scope is fully defined.
Can I just hand-write a change order in Buildertrend or Procore instead?
You can. Buildertrend and Procore charge $99-$399/mo and still leave you writing the legal language yourself. This skill costs once and ships with the cause classification, the protective clauses, the schedule scenarios, and the dispute-defense playbook — the parts those tools don't write for you. Output is a printable HTML CO you sign and scan.
Install — no Terminal required
After checkout you land on a page with a one-click download and a pre-built install prompt. Pick the AI you already pay for — both packages are included, so you can't pick wrong.
What you'll see the second your payment clears
Your license key
ST-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX · permanent
Pre-built install prompt⧉ Copy
ChatGPT package (ZIP)⬇ Download
No setup work before you buy — copy, paste, done.
Have Claude Pro, Max, or Team?
Copy the prompt, paste into Claude
Copy the pre-built install prompt from the success page, paste it into any Claude Code chat, and Claude installs the skill itself — about 10 seconds. Using the app instead? Drop the downloaded folder into a Claude Project's knowledge and ask Claude to use it.
Have ChatGPT Plus or Team?
Build a Custom GPT — ~2 minutes
Click Download ChatGPT package (included with every purchase).
Unzip it — inside is a SETUP.md and a knowledge/ folder.
Go to chatgpt.com → your profile → My GPTs → Create a GPT → Configure.
Paste the Name, Description, and Instructions from SETUP.md into the matching fields.
Under Knowledge, upload every file in the knowledge/ folder.
Click Create/Save, open your GPT, and describe your task in plain English.
A paid plan on either platform is required — Claude (Pro, Max, or Team) or ChatGPT (Plus or Team). Comfortable with Terminal? A one-line npx skilltree-network install path is available too.