Change orders done right — get paid for every extra — key point 1

Put every change in writing before the work happens — a verbal 'go ahead' is nearly impossible to collect on.

Change orders done right — get paid for every extra — key point 3

Note the schedule impact — extra work often means extra days, and that time has value worth stating in writing.

Change orders done right — get paid for every extra — key point 4

Get a signature before proceeding — the owner approving in writing is what makes the change collectible.

Change orders done right — get paid for every extra — key point 5

Keep a running total — small changes add up, and showing the cumulative number keeps the client from being shocked at the end.

Contracts

Change orders done right — get paid for every extra

5 min read

Changes are inevitable on almost every job. What sinks contractors isn't the change itself — it's doing the work first and arguing about the price later. A simple, disciplined change-order habit turns scope creep from a source of losses into billable, documented revenue.

The change isn't the problem

Changes happen on almost every job — an owner picks a nicer tile, a wall opens up to reveal rotten framing, a permit review forces a redesign. What sinks contractors isn't the change itself; it's doing the work first and arguing about the price afterward. By then you've lost your leverage: the work is done, the money's spent, and now you're negotiating from behind.

The fix is a simple, disciplined habit: put every change in writing before the work happens, and get a signature before you proceed. A verbal 'go ahead' is nearly impossible to collect on; the owner's written approval is exactly what makes the extra work billable.

Price it fully, total it honestly

Price each change the way you'd price the original job — labor, materials, equipment and your standard markup — not just the raw cost of the new material. Note the schedule impact too: extra work usually means extra days, and that time has real value worth stating in writing. Skipping the markup and the schedule turns every change into unpaid work you did as a favor.

Finally, keep a running total and share it. Small changes add up fast, and a client who sees the cumulative number climb in real time is never shocked at closeout — which is exactly when a surprised owner decides to fight the final invoice.

Key takeaways

Put every change in writing before the work happens — a verbal 'go ahead' is nearly impossible to collect on.
Price each change fully — labor, materials, equipment and your standard markup — not just the raw material cost.
Note the schedule impact — extra work often means extra days, and that time has value worth stating in writing.
Get a signature before proceeding — the owner approving in writing is what makes the change collectible.
Keep a running total — small changes add up, and showing the cumulative number keeps the client from being shocked at the end.

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