Glossary
Change order
A formal amendment to the construction contract that modifies the scope, price, or schedule after work has begun.
A change order is a written agreement that alters the original construction contract — adjusting the scope of work, the contract price, the schedule, or all three — once the project is underway.
Change orders arise from many sources: owner-requested changes, unforeseen site conditions, design clarifications (often following an RFI), or errors and omissions in the documents. Each one should document what’s changing, the cost impact, and the schedule impact, with sign-off from the relevant parties.
They’re a normal part of construction, but they’re also a common source of disputes and margin erosion when they’re handled informally. A change agreed verbally on site, with no clear record, is a claim waiting to happen.
The defense is a clear trail: the conversation where it was agreed, what was decided, and how it flowed into the plan and the schedule. Capturing decisions where they happen keeps the rationale traceable.