June 5, 2025
It only takes one overlooked requirement to throw a project off track—leading to rework, legal disputes, delayed payments, and a damaged relationship with the owner. Contractors know this risk all too well, yet the sheer volume of requirements on a typical project makes it easy for something to slip through the cracks. Below are three real-world scenarios where a single missed requirement nearly derailed a job—and how better documentation and automated tools could have made the difference.
1. Documentation That Saved a GC from a Six-Figure Loss
On a mixed-use project, the general contractor wrapped up construction on time, under budget, and believed every contract requirement had been met. Months later, during the warranty period, a pipe burst in one of the units. The repair itself was straightforward, but when walls were opened up, a much bigger problem was discovered: missing firestopping in multiple areas.
The owner demanded the GC return to the site, tear open every unit, complete the firestopping installation, repair the walls, and absorb all costs—including liquidated damages until the work was complete.
Fortunately, the project team had meticulously documented progress with photos throughout construction. By reviewing their records, they proved that only a few units were affected. The scope of rework was cut dramatically, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars. Without that documentation, the GC would have been on the hook for the full cost of redoing finished work.
2. When “Standard” Closeout Packages Aren’t Enough
Many project engineers assume turnover requirements are similar from job to job, or that owners won’t notice missing documents. That assumption can be costly.
One project team initially thought they needed to collect about 120 documents for closeout. After running their specs through an automated review tool like Anyset Closeout, they discovered the actual requirement was more than 600 documents. Had they stuck to their original plan, hundreds of required submittals would have been missed, leading to delays, withheld payments, and potential liquidated damages.
Instead, by automating the process, they identified all the requirements upfront and collected everything on schedule. The experience not only saved the project from major financial penalties but also taught the team to never rely on guesswork for closeout again.
3. The Forgotten Mock-Up That Cost Six Figures
Mock-ups exist to prevent costly mistakes, yet they’re one of the most commonly overlooked requirements. Missing one can put an entire scope of completed work at risk—forcing rework, triggering liquidated damages, and sometimes leading to disputes with the owner.
On one project, a GC learned this the hard way. A missed mock-up requirement wasn’t caught until the end of the job, resulting in well over six figures in losses. What’s striking is that this wasn’t an isolated incident—manual submittal logs often miss mock-up requirements entirely, leaving project engineers to catch them under pressure and tight timelines.
Automated tools like Anyset Specs now flag these hidden requirements directly from the spec book, giving teams the chance to address them early and avoid the financial hit.
Missed requirements don’t just cause paperwork headaches—they can jeopardize profits, schedules, and client relationships. Thorough documentation and automated spec review tools like Anyset Specs and Anyset Closeout help ensure every requirement is identified, tracked, and met—so you’re not leaving your project’s financial health to chance.