Question 1

When do I need a change order?

Accepted Answer

Any time the work, price, or timeline differs from what's in the original contract. Even small changes should be documented. That 'quick tweak' that takes 3 hours? That's a change order. The habit of handling changes informally is how a $10,000 project becomes $15,000 of work you'll never get paid for.

Question 2

Can I refuse a change order?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. A change order requires both parties to agree. If the client wants more work but doesn't want to pay more, you can say no. The original contract terms stand until both sides sign the change order. Don't start the extra work until the change order is approved — verbal agreements to 'figure it out later' usually don't end well.

Question 3

What happens if work changes without a change order?

Accepted Answer

You've got a dispute waiting to happen. The contractor might claim they're owed extra money; the client might refuse to pay because it wasn't documented. Courts look at the written contract, and if there's no change order, proving the scope changed is an uphill battle. Put it in writing. Every time.

Question 4

What should a change order include?

Accepted Answer

A description of the change, the reason for it, the impact on cost, the impact on timeline, and signatures from both parties. Reference the original contract by name and date. The more specific you are, the less room there is for argument later.

Question 5

Is a change order legally binding?

Accepted Answer

Yes, once both parties sign it. It becomes an amendment to the original contract. Some contracts specify a formal process for change orders — like requiring written approval from a project manager. Follow whatever process the contract lays out, or the change order might not be enforceable.

Question 6

How do I prevent scope creep without change orders?

Accepted Answer

You don't — change orders are the tool for managing scope creep. The real question is how to make them easy to use. Include a change order process in every project contract: what triggers one, who approves it, and how quickly decisions happen. When adding a change order is a 5-minute process, people actually use it.

Change Order

Definition

In Practice

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Frequently asked questions about change order

Create a contract with proper change order clauses