What an Assessment Addendum Should Change—and Leave Intact
New information does not require pretending that the original assessment never existed. When a report is supplemented, readers need to see what changed, why it changed and which original limitations still apply. A simple change boundary makes the updated record easier to use.
Identify the new input
Name the document, observation or clarification being added, together with its date and source. Explain whether it was newly collected or simply unavailable during the first review. Do not describe a later photograph as evidence of an earlier hidden condition. Keep the original report version and the new input together so another reader can follow the sequence without reconstructing an email chain.
State the effect on the conclusion
Separate a correction from additional context and from an expanded investigation. Ask whether the new input changes a finding, a recommendation or only the confidence attached to it. Where the engagement is unchanged, do not imply that new areas were inspected or additional tests were performed. A requested addendum also does not establish an unlimited duty to keep reviewing a property.
Make the reading order explicit
Identify the report being supplemented and the specific passage or asset affected. Ask the author how conflicting versions should be handled and whether a revised complete report is more appropriate. Preserve unchanged findings without quietly copying them into a new date. The project agreement determines the purchased work; this checklist explains document clarity rather than adding contractual deliverables or rights.
Copyable worksheet
Use one row for each field. Mark unknown information clearly and retain the original records.
| Field | Your note |
|---|---|
| Original report and version | ____________________ |
| New input and source date | ____________________ |
| Affected finding or recommendation | ____________________ |
| Unchanged scope and limitations | ____________________ |
| Current reading order | ____________________ |
Worked example
Illustrative example: an owner supplies a previously missing maintenance note after a fictional condition report. The author explains that it adds history but does not change the observed-area boundary. The addendum identifies that limited effect. A reader can now understand the new context without assuming that another site visit occurred.