Universal Prompting Guide

❌Weak Prompt

✅ Powerful Prompt

“applicable law”

“What is the ‘Applicable Law’ per this contract and how does it differ from local building codes? Include examples of what types of laws or regulations would qualify.”

“bound”

“What are the bonding requirements for this project including performance bond percentage, payment bond requirements, bid bond amounts, and any specialty bonds required?”

“tariff”

“How are tariffs or trade duties addressed in this contract? Who bears the risk of tariff increases on materials, and is there a mechanism for cost adjustments due to trade policy changes?”

“insurance”

“What insurance coverage is required, what are the minimum limits, who is named as additional insured, and what certificates or documentation must be provided?”

❌Weak Prompt

✅ Powerful Prompt

“what about Additional Warranties”

“What about Additional Warranties - which systems require extended warranties, what are the duration requirements, and what are my responsibilities for obtaining and managing these warranties?”

“what about consequential damages”

“What about consequential damages - Is there a waiver of consequential damages in the contract and who is it in favor of, the Contractor, Subcontractor, or both? Any exclusions?”

“What about weather conditions”

“What about weather conditions causing unsafe site conditions - what specific weather events qualify for work stoppage, who makes the safety determination, and how are delays and costs handled?”

❌Weak Prompt

✅ Powerful Prompt

“Find weekly meetings”

“What are the requirements for weekly meetings including who must attend, what topics must be covered, and what documentation or reports are required?”

“show me subrogation”

“What are the subrogation requirements in this contract, which parties waive subrogation rights, and how does this affect my insurance coverage requirements?”

“find areas that mention weather delays”

“What does this contract say about weather delays including qualifying conditions, notification requirements, documentation needed, and how time extensions are calculated?”

“give me sample escalation language”

“What does this contract say about material price escalation, and can you help me understand how the escalation clause works and what documentation is required for price adjustments?”

❌Weak Prompt

✅ Powerful Prompt

“Is a tariff a law?”

“Is a tariff considered a law under this contract’s definition of ‘Applicable Law,’ and if so, how do tariff changes affect pricing and who bears the cost risk?”

“Are general conditions lump sum”

“Are general conditions lump sum or time-based in this contract? If lump sum, what’s included and excluded? If time-based, what rates apply and what triggers additional costs?”

“Can branch circuits be combined?”

“Can branch circuits be combined in conduit according to this specification, what are the derating requirements, and are there restrictions on mixing different circuit types?”

❌Weak Prompt

✅ Powerful Prompt

“Where is this stated?”

“Where does this contract address [specific topic you’re researching], and what are the key requirements that affect my work?”

“section 3”

“What does Section 3 cover regarding [specific topic], and how do these requirements affect my responsibilities on this project?”

“where are the contacts listed”

“Where are the key project contacts listed, including decision-makers I need to coordinate with, and what are their specific roles and responsibilities?”

❌Weak Prompt

✅ Powerful Prompt

“roof is leaking, what am I required to do”

“If there’s a roof leak during construction, what are my immediate responsibilities according to this contract, what notice requirements apply, and how are repair costs and delays handled?”

“final completion, not substantial”

“What is the difference between substantial completion and final completion in this contract, what criteria must be met for each, and how do these milestones affect retainage and warranty periods?”

“Liquidated damages, penalties”

“What does this contract say about liquidated damages, penalties, and delay claims including specific amounts, triggering events, notice requirements, and any limitations or exclusions?”

❌Weak Prompt (Misspelled)

✅ Powerful Prompt (Corrected)

“force majure”

“What events qualify as force majeure under this contract, what is the notification process, and how do time extensions get calculated for qualifying delays?”

“spoec section”

“What does the specification section say about [specific topic], including technical requirements, installation standards, and coordination with other trades?”

“Vanadalism recourse”

“What recourse do I have for vandalism damage to my work, who is responsible for repairs and security, and how are delays and additional costs handled?”

Basic Search

Document Crunch Formula

“schedule”

“What are the key milestone dates, what happens if milestones are missed, and how are schedule extensions requested?”

“payment”

“When are progress payments due, what documentation is required, and what is the timeline from submission to payment?”

“substantial completion”

“What is the definition of substantial completion in this contract, what criteria must be met, and what happens to retainage and warranty periods once it’s achieved?”