Can I enter negative amounts on a change order?
Yes. When the scope gets smaller, you can enter a negative amount on a change order to reduce the project budget. As an example, the client picks standard plumbing fixtures instead of the upgraded ones, so the change order takes $2,000 off.
Here are the steps to follow:
Create the change order
Create a change order for the project the same way you always do. See Create a Change Order.
Enter a negative Unit Cost
In the row for the scope you are reducing, enter the Unit Cost as a negative number. As an example, -2000. Buildwise works out the negative Cost, Mark-Up $ and Total for you.
Check the totals
The summary under the change order shows the reduced totals. As an example, the Project Total is -$2,237.40 after mark-up and tax.
Approve the change order
Once the change order is Client Approved or Manually Approved, the reduction is applied to your project reporting.
You can mix positive and negative rows
One change order can add some costs and take others off. As an example, the change order above takes $2,000 off the plumbing fixtures and adds $350 for the plumber to come back and swap them.
Labor credits take hours off
If the negative row is a Labor row, type the hours as a positive Quantity and the rate as a negative Unit Cost. As an example, 40 hours at -$30.00. Buildwise takes those 40 hours off the change order's Total Hours and off Change Hours on the Labor page, in addition to taking the dollar cost off.
Moving money between COGs or Cost Groups? See How to shift estimated costs between COGs and Cost Groups.
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