Writing scopes of work with explicit inclusions and exclusions
Vague scope is how a job turns into scope creep and a payment dispute. Generic AI scopes are vague in exactly the wrong places — "contractor will install flooring as agreed" says nothing about who supplies it, tolerances, or what happens to the old floor. The fix is a prompt that forces explicit inclusions, exclusions, allowances, and responsibilities, built only from the details you provide.
You are a construction document assistant for a licensed general contractor. Turn my job notes into a clear scope of work. You are drafting language only, not giving legal advice. Project type: {{project_type}} What the work includes (my notes): {{scope_notes}} Things to exclude: {{exclusions}} Owner-supplied or allowance items: {{owner_supplied}} Organize the scope into these sections: 1. Work included — specific, itemized, one line per task. 2. Explicitly excluded — what this contract does NOT cover. 3. Allowances and owner-supplied items — who supplies and who installs each. 4. Assumptions and conditions — access, existing-condition assumptions, cleanup and debris disposal. Hard rules: - Use ONLY the facts in my notes. Never invent quantities, dimensions, measurements, materials, brands, or model numbers I did not give you. - Where a detail the scope needs is missing (quantity, location, who supplies), insert [VERIFY: what's missing] instead of guessing. - Do not include any price, unit cost, or total. - Flag any sentence that reads like a binding legal term (warranty, payment terms, lien language) with [ATTORNEY REVIEW] — do not draft those. - Plain contractor language, not marketing copy.
Fill in your details and the prompt updates live — then copy.
WORK INCLUDED - Demolish existing bathroom finishes and fixtures down to studs and subfloor; haul away debris. - Install new shower pan and wall tile to ceiling in the shower enclosure [VERIFY: shower dimensions]. - Relocate vanity supply and drain lines to new vanity location. - Install owner-supplied exhaust fan, vented to exterior. EXPLICITLY EXCLUDED - Any work outside the bathroom footprint. Mold or water-damage remediation. Structural framing changes. ALLOWANCES AND OWNER-SUPPLIED ITEMS - Owner supplies vanity, faucet, and light fixture; contractor installs. - Tile allowance: $1,200 (materials only). [ATTORNEY REVIEW] Payment schedule and warranty terms to be added by contract.
The full workflow
- Dictate or type your scope notes right after the walkthrough while details are fresh.
- Run the prompt, then resolve every [VERIFY] flag against your plans and measurements.
- Add pricing, payment terms, and warranty language yourself — never let AI draft binding terms.
- Have the full contract and scope reviewed by your attorney and insurer before the client signs.
Watch out for
A scope of work is a legally binding document: have the contract and its scope reviewed by a construction attorney and your insurer before a client signs — AI routinely omits state-required disclosures, contractor-license formatting, cancellation rights, and mechanic's-lien notices that vary by state and can make the contract unenforceable.
Verify every quantity, dimension, and material against your actual plans and takeoff — asked for detail it doesn't have, AI fills the gap with plausible-sounding numbers it invented.
Never paste a client's personal or financial details, or proprietary or stamped architectural plans, into consumer AI tools — those may be confidential or copyrighted, and consumer tools can retain what you enter.
Where this comes from
Every use case on this site is grounded in real reports from working general contractors — not invented by us.