Change Order
A formal written document that modifies the original scope of work, price, or timeline of a renovation contract, agreed by both homeowner and contractor.
A change order (also called a variation in the UK) is a formal amendment to your renovation contract. It documents any changes to the original scope of work, along with the impact on cost and timeline.
When you need a change order
- You want to add work that wasn’t in the original scope
- You want to remove or change planned work
- Unexpected conditions require different work than planned (e.g., structural issues discovered behind a wall)
- Material substitutions are needed (supply issues, preference changes)
What a change order should include
- Description of the change
- Reason for the change
- Impact on cost (additional or reduced)
- Impact on timeline
- Signatures of both homeowner and contractor
Why change orders matter
Without formal change orders, disputes about what was agreed, what it costs, and who’s responsible become common. Always get changes in writing before the work is done — verbal agreements about cost and scope are a leading cause of renovation disputes.