JANUARY JLC 1997
I
Clear specifications and
written change orders are
the answer when clients
exceed allowance prices
n a perfect world, every detail of a construction
project would be nailed down by the
time the contract is signed. In practice, however,
there is always something — a choice of
countertop material, a kitchen cabinet style,
a type of lockset or lighting fixture — that is
still up in the air when the project starts.
Whether you're working from in-house
designs or architectural plans, a common solution
to this problem is the use of allowance
prices. When used properly, allowances give
both owners and contractors a reasonably
accurate idea of the final cost of a project.
Used carelessly, however,