Objective:

To help homeowners understand why a simple Word document can become one of the most powerful coordination tools on a construction project.

Learn It:

The Critical Issue Sheet keeps your build moving.
It’s not for daily notes — it’s a living list of only the biggest items slowing progress or needing decisions.

Think of it as the project’s “traffic control tower.”

If it’s on the sheet, it’s active.
If it’s resolved, it gets deleted.

Log It:

✅ Create a Word document titled Critical Issue Sheet – [Project Name].

✅ Save it in your Digital Home Manual → Project Management Folder.

✅ Share editing access with your entire team (contractor, architect, PM, designer, etc.).

Tip: Keep it simple. One sheet. One truth. Everyone sees the same version.

Objective:

To teach homeowners how to set up the first version properly and organize it for ongoing teamwork.

Learn It:

The sheet works best when it’s clear and consistent.

It should have simple columns:

• Issue / Description

• Who’s Responsible

• Status / Notes

• Target Date

• Resolution / Outcome

Keep formatting simple — no distractions, just action items.

Log It:

✅ Add those five columns to your Word document.

✅ Insert your first issue (e.g., “Need city confirmation on drainage plan”).

✅ Save and share the document link.

✅ Store it in the same folder each time you update it.

Tip: Label your file version by date (e.g., Critical Issue Sheet – Updated [MM/DD]).

Objective:

To train homeowners on how to integrate the Critical Issue Sheet into weekly or biweekly project coordination.

Learn It:

Every meeting, your PM or contractor should open this sheet first.
Go line by line:

• What’s blocking progress?

• Who owns the next step?

• When will it be done?

Anything new gets added immediately.

Anything solved gets deleted — leaving only active priorities.

Log It:

✅ Review it weekly with your team.
✅ Highlight items in yellow for “urgent.”
✅ Add notes from your meeting directly to the sheet.
✅ Send the updated version link to your PM afterward.

Tip: Treat this as your live to-do list. The shorter it gets, the smoother your job runs.

Objective:

To show homeowners how to make this shared document a trusted source of truth among all parties.

Learn It:

The power of the sheet comes from shared ownership.

Every team member can view or edit — but it’s everyone’s responsibility to update their own column.

When everyone works from the same sheet, miscommunication disappears.

Log It:

✅ Ask each to update their status before meetings.

✅ Add comments like: “Waiting on city review” or “Inspection passed – item cleared.”

✅ Save the file each time with a timestamp.

✅ Give editing rights to:

• Contractor / Project Manager

• Architect / Designer

• Key subcontractors

Tip: If an issue stay open for too long, elevate it to your PM for escalation — don’t let it sit.

Objective:

To teach homeowners how to finalize the document as a record of accountability and continuous improvement.

Learn It:

When issues are resolved, remove them — but keep a copy of older versions in your archive folder.

This becomes a record of decisions, lessons, and accountability if disputes arise.

At project close, your final Critical Issue Sheet shows exactly how every challenge was solved.

Log It:

✅ Archive old versions in a subfolder titled Resolved Issues.

✅ Keep your latest version in the top of your Home Manual.

✅ Review it once a month during construction and quarterly after completion.

✅ At project close-out, export the final version as PDF – For Records.

Tip: Over time, this becomes your maintenance tracker for future remodels and warranty follow-ups.

Key Takeaway

The Critical Issue Sheet is your project’s live control board — simple, shared, and focused.

It helps the entire team prioritize what truly matters, stay accountable, and keep progress visible.

When managed well, it becomes one of the most valuable pages in your entire Digital Home Manual.

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