Write a scope of work that stops scope creep

"Can you just look at the hallway too?" is how a fixed fee turns into weeks of free work. A clear scope saying what's included and what isn't stops scope creep before it starts. Signing it before work begins gives you both something to point to when the next request arrives.

A free AI chat tool (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Claude)

Steps

1. List the rooms, deliverables (for example mood boards, layouts, a sourcing list), revision rounds and meetings in your proposal.
2. Write down what you won't do (e.g. project managing trades, buying items), and how extra work is priced.
3. Example (made up, for illustration only): a scope for a living room and kitchen-diner includes two concept options, one round of revisions, a furniture layout, a sourcing list and three site meetings. It excludes the hallway, managing the builder and ordering items, and says extra rooms are quoted separately.
4. Run the prompt below.
5. Check it matches your fee proposal line by line.
6. Ask the client to sign before work starts, and use a change order for anything outside it.

The exact prompt

Write a scope of work (under 300 words) from my notes [paste].
Sections: rooms included, deliverables, revision rounds, meetings, exclusions, what counts as extra and how it's charged.
Plain English for a homeowner. Use only my notes. Do not add services, fees or legal terms.