Weekend Power Deposit: Build Your Scope-Change Checklist
This weekend, build your scope-change checklist.
Use it whenever a customer asks for something outside the original agreement.
Scope-Change Checklist
Before Saying Yes:
- Is this included in the original service?
- Does this require extra time?
- Does this require extra materials, tools, travel, edits, planning, or communication?
- Does this affect the schedule?
- Does this affect the price?
- Does this affect the quality of the original work?
- Am I the right person to do this?
If It Can Be Added:
- Explain that it is outside the original scope
- Quote the added cost or time
- Explain any schedule impact
- Get written approval
- Add it to the customer record or job notes
If It Cannot Be Added:
- Say no clearly
- Explain briefly if helpful
- Offer to schedule separately, quote separately, or suggest another resource if appropriate
Simple Response:
I can look at that. Since it is outside the original scope, I’ll need to confirm the extra time and cost before adding it.
That sentence alone can save you.
Save it somewhere.
Use it.
Repeat it as needed.
Scope creep is easier to manage when you stop treating every extra request like a surprise emergency.
It is not an emergency.
It is a decision.
Decisions need a process.
This is yours.
Weekend Power Deposit:
Create one scope-change checklist and save your extra request, additional work, and polite no messages together.
Prompt:
Can I handle extra requests clearly without automatically saying yes, absorbing the work, or creating confusion?
