Manually Approving a Change Order Without Sending to the Client
Record a change on a booked job and approve the change order without sending it, or attach a contract the client already signed.
Overview
After a job is booked, you can add changes to the estimate and record them as a change order. If the client has agreed to a change outside of Bolster, you can mark the change order as approved without sending a new contract, or attach a contract they have already signed.
Open the Estimate
1. In the left-hand menu, click Jobs.
2. Click Job list and select the estimate. You can also click Pipeline and select it from there.
Add the Change to the Estimate
1. In the estimate sidebar, click Estimate.
2. Add the new item for the change in the relevant section of the estimate (for example, a Framing Change Order item in the Wall Framing section, with a cost of $2,000).
3. In the top right corner, click Save estimate changes.
Approve the Change Order Without Sending It
1. In the estimate sidebar, under Production, click Change orders. The Revisions and change orders page opens.
2. Find the new change order at the top of the list (for example, Change-order #9). It is labelled Current revision and shows Not sent, Not seen and Not approved.
3. On the change order, click the three dots (More actions).
4. Select one of the following:
- Mark approved without contract: Approves the change order without sending it to the client. It becomes the latest version.
- Attach signed contract: Attach a contract the client has already signed for this change.
Review Change Orders and Download the Contract
1. On the Revisions and change orders page, each version shows whether it was Sent, Seen and Approved. The most recent approved version is labelled Last approved version.
2. To see what changed in a version, click Change summary. It lists what was Added, Removed and Updated.
3. To get a copy of the contract for an approved version, click the three dots on that version, then click Download authorization file. The PDF includes the job scope, pricing, payment terms, terms and conditions, and an Approvals history with the client's signature for each approved version.
Why This Matters
- You don't have to send a new contract every time the client agrees to a change.
- The approved change order becomes the latest version, so the estimate total and payment terms reflect the change.
Summary
To approve a change order without sending it to the client, add the change to the estimate and click Save estimate changes. Then go to Change orders, click the three dots on the new change order, and select Mark approved without contract, or Attach signed contract if the client has already signed one.