Define the review before the first application
Read the owner–architect agreement and relevant construction contract provisions together. Confirm who submits the package, who reviews it, what certification is required, and the applicable timing. In the conventional G702 workflow, the architect reviews the application and continuation detail and certifies an amount. Certification and the owner’s subsequent payment are separate actions.
Build a consistent review record
Our recommended review note records the application version, period, requested amount, reviewed evidence, open questions, and decision. Link observations to the work items they support. If a claimed percentage is difficult to assess, ask for a clearer breakdown or supporting record rather than relying on a single overall completion percentage.
Explain differences in the amount certified
AIA’s G702 instructions contemplate certification of an amount different from the amount applied for, with an explanation of adjustments. Make the affected line and reason clear. Distinguish a correction to arithmetic from a concern about progress or compliance. Preserve the original request alongside the reviewed version so the contractor and owner can understand the difference.
Keep unanswered questions visible
Use a short open-item list with a named respondent and the information requested. Do not let a missing record disappear into a general ‘pending’ label. When a response arrives, record which question it resolves and whether the reviewed amount changes. Close the loop on the same application version, or identify the replacement version explicitly.
Avoid expanding the certification by accident
A lender or owner may request language beyond the project’s agreed certification. Compare that request with the architect’s services and available knowledge before signing. Ask the appropriate professional advisers to review unfamiliar certification language. A useful review record supports the decision; it is not a guarantee about every concealed condition, every subcontractor payment, or future completion.
Keep this handy
Review checklist
- Scope and timing of review confirmed
- Application version and evidence recorded
- Amount differences explained
- Additional certification language reviewed before signature
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Sources & scope
These references inform the document and workflow context. Checklists and examples are BuildProof’s editorial recommendations. The executed agreement, applicable law, and authorized project decisions control.
AIA and its document names are trademarks of The American Institute of Architects. This independent guide is not an AIA form or an endorsement. Obtain licensed documents when required. Educational guidance only; it does not replace project-specific legal, financial, or professional advice.
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