What to record each day
- Date, and who was on site.
- What got done, in a line or two.
- Anything that held you up, and why: weather, a late delivery, no access.
- Anything the client asked for or changed, in their words.
- Deliveries, and anything wrong with them.
- Photos.
Write it the same day. A note made at the time carries far more weight than one written from memory when there is already a disagreement.
Photos before you cover anything up
Pipes before the boards go on, cables before plastering, the damp you found behind the old units. Once it is covered, a photo is the only way to show what is there and that it was done right. It also helps the next trade, and you, if something needs fixing later.
Notes and photos go straight onto the job, and a weekly update goes to the client.
Try it freeNo card needed
What it settles
| Argument | What the diary shows |
|---|---|
| "Why is it late?" | Rain days, the late delivery, the week the client changed the layout |
| "I never asked for that" | The day they asked, what they said, the photo |
| "That was already broken" | Photos of how you found it on day one |
| "You never fixed the leak" | Photo of the repair before boarding over |
Keep it short and factual
Write what happened, not how you feel about it. "Client asked to move the sink to the window wall; will price as extra work" reads well to anyone. A rant about the client does not, and it may be read out one day.
Share it with the client
A short weekly update with the photos keeps the client in the loop, cuts the "just checking in" calls, and means they have seen the record all along. It is hard to dispute something you were sent every Friday. When the client asks for something new, agree it as extra work there and then.
