As a contractor, you understand the importance of doing things according to an agreement. It is part and parcel of providing your clients with quality services. Further, sticking to what is agreed upon eliminates the chances of disputes.
However, a client might ask you to perform a task that was not included in the original scope of work. What should you do?
Below are two things to consider:
Inform them about your concern
If a client asks you to provide a service not included in the agreement, it is typically better to talk to them about it rather than just ignore their request or go ahead and do it. There may be a misunderstanding over the contract that makes the client believe you have already agreed to provide the service in question. Alternatively, they might just be hoping you will do it without charging them, even though they know it is not included in the price. Handling this issue after completing the project may result in more conflicts. Thus, it is probably best to inform them about your concern sooner.
Put the new agreement in writing
Once you and the client have agreed on the tasks(s) to add to your scope of work, you should put it in writing, clearly stating the additional duties and agreed prices. Both of you should then sign the agreement. This gives you a backup if the client later claims they knew nothing about the work or did not agree to it.
If your client refuses to pay for the extra work they requested, you might need to obtain more information about your legal options to get the money they owe you.