Writing A Scope of Work for Construction Project – Everything You Need to Know

An owner will kick start the new construction project with proper planning. There is no doubt that planning is an important part of the construction industry. Doing work without any proper plan will lead to problems. Having a plan related to a construction project will help owners to GCs to subcontractors and most importantly to the commercial subcontractors to handle the large-scale projects. For the purpose of commercial estimating, connect with a professional estimating company for the correct estimate.

You must know that a plan which provides the work details and expectations for every member of your team is called a scope of work or SOW. In the below blog, we will look at every important thing about the SOW:

What is the Scope of Work?

Note that the scope of work for a project is also called as the statement of work. This will include the work that needs to be on a project, how the workers will be completing their job, and who is responsible to ensure that the work is done on time. The formal scope of work needs to be very clear and concise so that a construction manager or the workers can understand them easily. Every team member needs to be trained well in writing a scope of work for a construction project. For getting an estimate of a project, you need to contact a construction estimator for the best results.

Important Elements of the SOW

Now, let’s discuss the important elements of SOW in a construction project:

Project Overview: It is a statement that tells the summary of the project. This will highlight the key objectives, and it will have a short project description.

Project Scope: This portion will include all goals included in the construction contract. The project scope should mention all the quantifiable data that includes the budget and technical specifications. In this, the project milestones achieved will be written as well. Moving on, for an accurate estimate, get in touch with a skilled company for hiring a construction project estimator.

Project Deliverables: This will be telling about the targets and objectives of the project. This section will have all the essential information needed by the contractor for a clear understanding of the project’s requirements.

Project Schedule: This give the idea about the time needed for the completion of construction project. The schedule will include the delivery dates and the duration of the entire project.

Project Management: This section will have a detail of the functions of the project administration. Project management include changes in the original contract, payment information, and legal requirements. In addition to this, specific contract administration and time management details can also be added in the section. To have an idea about the cost of estimate, you have to hire a construction cost estimator.

Tips to Define the Scope of Work

Below are the tips for defining the scope of work:

1- Use Simple language

As stated above, the scope of work should be clear and concise. The need of interpretation will increase the risk of litigation, claims, and other problems. It is important to note that not every person is aware of the technical jargon used in the construction industry. There will be a section that will describe the terms and conditions. There will be a glossary for a clear understanding of the terms used in the contract.

2- Outline your Project

It is important for the person to outline your project in a broader term and you need to start with the location and project goals. After this, there will be a need for creation of a high-level model of the people working on the project and types of subcontractors that will be hired. Next, you have to think about the timing for every person involved in the project and how different kinds of sub-contractors will overlap during the project. Outlining the project in who, what, and when will assist in bring clarity to your scope of work. For clear and instant cost estimation, hire a dedicated construction cost estimating company.

3- Outline Objectives and Deliverables

It is important for the project manager to verify the objectives and deliverables that are listed in the contract. Objectives and deliverables act as the foundation of a scope of work and they need to be defined well for keeping a track of the project. The responsibility of every party involved in the project is important for preventing delays and costly changes.

4- Visuals Designs and Diagrams

The visual models will also help you to define objectives and deliverables. All types of subcontractors including the framing subcontractors to drywall subcontractors should be able to view project designs and diagrams. This is essential because these persons are responsible for completing the design of a project. Furthermore, subcontractors should also have access to the design. With the help of BIM software, subcontractors are able to virtually access the designs and building models, whereas, the architects and designers can show how the project will look like after reaching each milestone.

5- Signoffs

The project manager will be finalizing the SOW, they should have contractors sign on each objective for the project. Having signoffs on the individual goals and milestones will make the original contract stronger. strengthens the original contract. When everyone signs off on the benchmarks, then this means that they agree with them. So, if someone wants to change the scope, then he will have to submit a new deliverable or have to change the order. For the right project estimation, you have to contact a professional estimating company in your area.

Smart Goals

Keep the following points in mind:

Be Specific: To fulfill your goals, be specific in your working. You need to use ‘w’ questions (who, what, when, where, and why) for defining and clarifying your goals.

Measurable: Using metrics to determine whether you have met your goals or not is a good way to track your goals.

Achievable: It is important to set realistic goals that can be achieved.

Relevant: Your goals should be relevant and they should make sense with a broader objective.

Timely: Selection of a timeline is important when working on a construction project. Having a time constraint keeps the project on track and workers stay motivated.

Conclusion

Now you will be aware of the fact the scope of work needs to explain to all the work that is involved in every step of a project. You are aware of all the things that you should keep in mind when writing a scope of work for a construction project.

Looking to get the services of a drywall estimator or any other services? Get in touch with a professional estimating company in your area to get satisfactory results.