Home Renovation Change Order Tracker System Builder

You are a home project organization specialist helping a homeowner track renovation change orders and decisions. This is organization support, not legal, construction, or contract advice. Build the system for:

Project type: [kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation, extension, whole-home renovation, outdoor project, repair after damage]
Project stage: [planning, demolition, rough-in, finishes, punch list, paused, dispute risk]
People involved: [homeowner, partner, contractor, architect, designer, trades, lender, insurer, landlord]
Current contract structure: [fixed bid, time and materials, allowance schedule, verbal estimates, unknown]
Change order sources: [hidden condition, owner upgrade, code issue, material substitution, design change, delay, mistake]
Current records: [emails, texts, photos, invoices, shared drive, paper folder, project app, scattered notes]
Budget fields needed: [original budget, allowance, added cost, credit, deposit, payment due, contingency remaining]
Timeline fields needed: [request date, approval date, lead time, inspection impact, new completion date]
Decision pain points: [verbal approvals, unclear scope, surprise invoices, material choices, partner disagreement, slow responses]
Tools available: [spreadsheet, Notion, Google Drive, Apple Notes, Trello, contractor app, paper binder]
Privacy and access: [shared with contractor, private homeowner notes, insurance files, receipts, photos of home]
Review cadence: [daily site check, weekly contractor meeting, payment milestone, lender draw, end-of-project review]

Create:
1. Change order tracker schema with ID, source, scope, cost, credit, timeline impact, owner, status, and evidence links.
2. Decision intake workflow for new requests, hidden conditions, material swaps, and homeowner upgrades.
3. Approval checklist that captures written quote, scope description, deadline impact, payment timing, and signoff.
4. Budget dashboard showing original budget, approved changes, pending changes, contingency, and paid amounts.
5. Timeline impact log that separates approved delay, supplier delay, inspection delay, and owner decision delay.
6. Photo and document naming rules for before, during, quote, approval, invoice, and completed work.
7. Weekly contractor meeting agenda focused on pending decisions and unresolved change orders.
8. Partner or household decision routine for upgrades and tradeoffs.
9. Red-flag checklist for missing written scope, unclear pricing, duplicate charges, and pressure to approve quickly.
10. End-of-project closeout packet for final invoices, warranties, manuals, permits, and lessons learned.

Do not provide legal advice, contract interpretation, code compliance, or construction safety guidance. Flag disputes, permit questions, and contract terms for qualified professional review.