Get the scope change approved before you build it
Additive and deductive change orders, approved by the client and applied to the budget and schedule.
Change orders in Matterial log each project's scope changes —additive when they add work and deductive when they remove it— with a full breakdown, send them to the client for approval through a link, and, once approved, apply them to both the budget and the schedule. Every change order keeps an audit trail and produces a printable addendum ready to sign.
| Change | Amount | Time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom finish change | +$84,000 | +3 days | Approved by client |
| Additional rooftop wall | +$42,000 | +2 days | Sent to client |
| Outlet relocation | +$20,000 | +1 day | Under review |
What problem it solves
A project's scope changes constantly: a wall that moves, a finish the client upgrades, a line item that gets dropped. Those changes get agreed to verbally or over text, no one updates the budget or the schedule, and at the end of the job the disputes show up: the client doesn't remember authorizing the extra cost, and you have nothing to prove it. Without a signed record, every change is an argument you can lose.
How it works
Log the change order
Record the change as additive or deductive, with a line-by-line breakdown and the amount it adds to or subtracts from the contract.
Send it for approval
The client gets a link, reviews the breakdown, and approves or rejects it without creating an account.
It applies on approval
Once approved, the amount is added to or subtracted from the budget and the days adjust on the schedule, with nothing to re-enter.
It leaves a record
Every change order keeps an audit trail —who, what, and when— and produces a printable addendum ready to sign.
What's included
- Additive and deductive change orders with a line-by-line breakdown
- Client approval from a link, no account required
- Automatic application to the budget on approval
- Schedule adjusted in days and dates on approval
- Audit trail of who approved what and when
- Printable addendum ready to sign
Who it's for
Works with the rest of Matterial
Guides to go deeper
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an additive and a deductive change order?
An additive one adds scope and cost to the contract —extra work that wasn't budgeted—; a deductive one takes them away, when a line item is removed or reduced. Matterial handles both with their breakdown so the contract balance always stays clear.
How does the client approve a change order?
They get a link, review the breakdown, and approve or reject it right there, with nothing to install and no account to create. On approval, the change order is closed and the date and who authorized it are recorded.
What happens to the budget and the schedule when it is approved?
The amount is applied to the project budget —additive adds, deductive subtracts— and the agreed days adjust on the schedule. There is no separate plan to update: it happens on approval.
Is there a record of what was approved?
Yes. Every change order keeps an audit trail of who created it, who approved it, and when, and produces a printable addendum you can file or take to signature as proof of the agreement.
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