# Track change orders and costs during my renovation

A simple cost tracker and change-order process so surprises are agreed in writing and you always know where the budget stands.

- Topic: Personal Life & Wellbeing
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Finance, Legal, Plan, Fill-in Template, Step-by-step
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/track-change-orders-and-costs-during-my-renovation

## Prompt

```text
Help me track costs and handle changes during my renovation. This is step 4 of renovating my kitchen or bathroom.

**Contract total and payment schedule:** [AMOUNT, deposits and milestone payments]
**Budget and contingency (from step 1, if I have it):** [AMOUNTS]
**Allowances in the contract:** [e.g. "tile allowance 2,000", "lighting allowance 800"]
**Changes or surprises so far:** [e.g. "found rotted subfloor", "I upgraded the faucet"]
**Payments made so far:** [LIST]

Give me:
1. A cost tracker table: Item | Original budget | Allowance | Actual | Change order # | Difference | Paid | Remaining. Pre-fill it with what I've shared.
2. A simple change-order process: every change in writing before work starts, with a description, cost, schedule impact, and both signatures. Give me a short change-order template.
3. How to judge a surprise cost: questions to ask (Is it required by code? Can I see it? What are the options? Is this a fixed price or time and materials?) and when to get a second opinion.
4. Payment guardrails: pay tied to completed work, not dates; avoid paying far ahead of progress; keep lien waivers or receipts where they apply locally [CONFIRM].
5. A weekly 10-minute budget check: what to review and the point where I should pause and make cuts.

Use only the numbers I give you; mark missing ones as [ADD]. This is general information; for contract disputes, talk to a local consumer protection office or an attorney. Next step: the final walkthrough.
```

## What to fill in

- AMOUNT, deposits and milestone payments
- AMOUNTS
- e.g. "tile allowance 2,000", "lighting allowance 800"
- e.g. "found rotted subfloor", "I upgraded the faucet"
- LIST
- CONFIRM
- ADD

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.