A work order is a document authorizing and describing a specific task, commonly used for smaller repair or maintenance jobs rather than full construction projects.
Property managers and maintenance companies use work orders to track individual repair requests.
What Does a Work Order Include?
- Description of the requested task
- Location and priority
- Assigned technician or contractor
- Basic cost estimate, if applicable
Why Are Work Orders Important?
A landlord might issue a work order for a plumber to fix a leaking faucet, a much narrower document than a full construction contract would require. Work orders create a simple paper trail for smaller jobs without the overhead of drafting a full contract for every minor repair.
Work Order vs. Change Order
A work order authorizes a standalone task, often unrelated to any larger project. A change order, by contrast, specifically modifies an existing construction contract that’s already underway.