Role of Contract Management in Managing Variations, Change Orders in Construction Projects
Building a new structure is never easy. Plans change all the time. On a big construction job, these changes are called variations or change orders.
Brian Walker Building a new structure is never easy. Plans change all the time. On a big construction job, these changes are called variations or change orders. They can make the project cost more money or take longer to finish. This happens a lot.
A variation is a change to the original agreement. Maybe the owner wants a different material. Or perhaps the soil report was wrong. The original contract must change. If you do not handle these changes well, the whole project can fail.
Why Construction Projects Change
There are many reasons for changes. Sometimes the design was not complete at the start. Sometimes the customer simply changes their mind. But there are also surprises that nobody planned for.
● Finding unexpected ground conditions.
● New laws or building codes come out.
● Bad weather stops the work for a long time.
These surprises make the job harder. They create arguments about money and time. Everyone needs a fair way to agree on the new plan.
How Good Management Keeps Control
This is where good contract management steps in. It is not just about signing papers at the start. It is about a clear, simple process for handling every change later on. This process needs to be in the contract.
The process should answer simple questions. Who asks for the change? Who approves it? How do we agree on the new price? Good contracts make all this clear. They stop arguments before they get too big.
Managing variations means documenting everything. Every request, every approval, every email. This paper trail shows exactly what happened. It protects everyone involved. It helps keep the project budget and schedule on track. Proper Construction Contract Management helps teams manage risk and keep a good working relationship with the client.
Conclusion
Handling changes is vital for any successful construction project. It keeps the work moving, saves money, and makes sure the final building is what everyone agreed upon. Systems like Qubix Grid help teams keep track of every change order simply and clearly.
