A paper trail is your defense in payment disputes, damage claims, and chargebacks. It doesn't have to be literal paper — it's a consistent record of scope, condition, work done, and communication. Here's how to create one on every job.
What to Capture
- Scope in writing — estimate or contract with line items and price
- Pre-work condition — timestamped photos before you start
- Key phases — photos before cover-up and at completion
- Invoice — tied to the same job and, ideally, to the photos
- Communication — key texts or emails (approvals, change requests, completion acknowledgment)
One Place per Job
Keep everything for a job in one place — one address-based workspace where photos, estimate, and invoice live together. TimeFotos does this by default: one workspace per address, with timestamps on every photo and estimates/invoices attached to the same job. When a dispute hits, you have one link to share.
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Bottom Line
Create a paper trail on every job: written scope, pre-work and phase photos, invoice, and key communications, all in one place. Build the habit so you're never without evidence.