Scope of work
A written description of what a contractor will do on a job, with pricing broken out by task or trade. What a rehab contract should be built around, not a handshake.
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Where this comes up: getting ready
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
If you hire work done before listing, the scope of work is the written list of what is included at what price. Without one, every disagreement about what was promised is your word against the contractor's.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
A scope for a kitchen refresh: new counters, a new sink and faucet, paint, hardware, and the disposal, itemized, for $9,400.
| The situation | With a written scope |
|---|---|
| The contractor says the disposal was extra | The scope says it was included |
| You want the backsplash added | A change order, priced before it is done |
| The final bill | Matches the scope plus signed change orders, or it is disputed |
The scope is the promise in writing. Everything else is a change order.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That a quote is a scope. A quote is a number; a scope is a list of what the number buys.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Your Room defines scope of work in the step you meet it in, beside the document or the date it belongs to. Free to set up, with an agent or on your own.
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