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Remodeling Success Tips, Issue #002 -- Writing an Effective Project Scope
March 01, 2008

Effective Project Scopes

A project scope is a laundry list of tasks that lets everyone know where the project begins and ends. It will define the work of the project as well as your expectations.

Writing an effective project scope is one of the most important steps you can take to get your project headed in the right direction.

Knowing what you want the outcome to be is paramount.



Table of Contents

Issue #002 - March 1, 2008

In this issue, we will be looking at how to write an effective project scope and what its importance is to your project.

  1. The Outline
  2. Further Definition
  3. Adding Clarity
  4. The Importance



The Outline

Writing an effective project scope helps keep everyone on the same page. The lack of definition leads to assumptions.

To start writing your project scope, you must know what the final outcome wants to be. The scope will become your roadmap to get you there.

To begin, you should write a basic outline of the work to come.

Your first list may look something like this:

  • New addition for game room
  • New fixtures and appliances in kitchen
  • Remodel 2nd floor bathroom
  • Paint entire 1st floor

This basic outline will give you a place to start filling in all the tasks required to achieve the final result of each.



Further Definition

To further define your scope, take your list and expand on each of the headings. Try to add everything you can think of that would be required to achieve that outcome.

We will take a look at the first item in the list above and expand it further.

New Addition for Game Room

  • Surveying
  • Excavation
  • Formwork
  • Concrete
  • Landscape
  • Demolition
  • Rough Carpentry
  • Electrical, Plumbing & Mechanical
  • Insulation
  • Window & Doors
  • Drywall & Plaster
  • Finish Carpentry
  • Wall & Floor Finishes
  • Cabinets & Counters
  • Appliances
  • Hardware

Now do the same for each item on your list until you have everything you can think of. At this point if you already have an architect or other professional on board, have them help you with this.

It will benefit them as well since they will be incorporating this list into any services they will be providing.



Adding Clarity

Once again you should take your list and add further clarity as necessary. Look at the example below as we have taken our list and expanded it a little further.

New Addition for Game Room

  • Surveying
  • Excavation
  • Formwork
  • Concrete
  • Landscape
  • Demolition
  • Rough Carpentry
  • Electrical, Plumbing & Mechanical
    • Owner to provide all electrical & plumbing fixtures
  • Insulation
  • Window & Doors
  • Drywall & Plaster
  • Finish Carpentry
  • Wall & Floor Finishes
  • Cabinets & Counters
  • Appliances
  • Hardware
    • Owner to provide all finish hardware

The more clarity you can add upfront the more complete and cost effective the contractor bids will be.



The Importance

The importance of this step is monumental. The scope will eventually delineate and identify all work to be included in the budget and then subsequently the contract.

A well written scope can mean the difference between a successful project and one that emulates a run away freight train.

Once defined your scope is ready to be sent out for competitive bidding or to be reviewed by an architect or designer to be incorporated into drawings and specifications.

The size and complexity of your project will determine your requirements.

This scope of work will surely change along the way but the goal is to make the changes minimal as to not blow your budget out of the water.



In our next newsletter, we will take a look at Hiring Professionals.

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Until then, Happy Remodeling!



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