Tracking Client Selections and Decisions

A selectionis a task where your client needs to make a decision — tile choice, cabinet style, paint color, appliance model, fixture finish, and so on. In BuildChart, selections live directly in the Gantt chart where they belong. A delayed client decision delays downstream tasks just like any other dependency.

Why Selections Matter

One of the most common causes of construction delays is waiting on client decisions. Builders call it “selection paralysis” — the client can't decide on a tile, so the tile installer can't start, so flooring is delayed, and so on down the chain.

By tracking selections as tasks in the Gantt, BuildChart makes the cost of indecision visible. When a selection is overdue, the builder sees an amber warning in the project header. The client sees it prominently in their portal. And the dependency cascade shows exactly which tasks are waiting.

Creating a Selection Task

1. Click + Add in any section of your Gantt.
2. In the task form, find the Task Type selector.
3. Click Client Selection.
4. Name the task descriptively — e.g. “Select kitchen tile”, “Choose cabinet hardware”, “Approve paint colors”.
5. Set the due date for when the decision is needed by.
6. Assign to the client using the Assigned To dropdown. Client role members appear at the top of the list.
7. Add any dependencies. For example, if tile installation depends on this selection, link it as a Finish → Start dependency.

How Selections Appear on the Gantt

Selection tasks have a distinct purple color on the Gantt chart, making them easy to spot among regular tasks. They display with a diamond prefix (◊) both in the task row and on the Gantt bar.

• Purple bar — distinguishes selections from standard tasks
• Diamond icon — visual marker in the task list and bar
• Pulsing amber border — appears when a selection is overdue
• “Decision Needed” badge — replaces the status badge when overdue

What Your Client Sees in the Portal

When a client logs into their client portal, pending selections appear at the very top in a prominent amber card labeled “Your Decisions Needed.” Each selection shows:

• The task name
• Due date with urgency indicator (overdue in red, due soon in amber)
• How many other tasks are waiting on this decision
• A Mark as Decided button

When the client clicks Mark as Decided, a small modal asks “What did you decide?” They type their choice (e.g. “White subway tile, matte finish”), confirm, and the task is marked complete. Their decision is saved in the task notes.

Once all selections are complete, the amber card is replaced with a green message: “All decisions made — your project is on track!”

Overdue Selection Warnings

When a selection task passes its due date without a decision, BuildChart alerts the builder in two ways:

1. Project header warning— an amber banner reading “2 client decisions overdue” (click to expand the list).
2. Email reminder— the assigned client receives an email with the task name, due date, and how many tasks are blocked. This sends at most once per day per selection.

Setting Up Selection Dependencies

The real power of selection tasks comes from dependencies. When you create a selection task, add a Finish → Start dependency from the selection to the task that needs the decision. For example:

• “Select kitchen tile” → “Install kitchen tile”
• “Choose cabinet hardware” → “Install cabinet hardware”
• “Approve paint colors” → “Interior painting”

Now if the client is late on their decision, the dependent task dates cascade automatically — the builder and the rest of the team see the real schedule impact immediately.

Milestones

The task type selector also includes a Milestoneoption. Milestones mark key project events (like “Foundation complete” or “Certificate of occupancy”) and appear as purple diamond shapes on the Gantt instead of bars. Duration is automatically set to 1 day.