AI-generated cabin concept, used for illustration.
In this guide
A change order should describe what is changing, what it costs and what it does to the schedule before the work proceeds. Even an apparently small change can affect several trades in a compact A-frame.
Trace the consequence beyond the visible item
Moving a kitchen sink may alter cabinetry, plumbing, ventilation routes and the wall finish. Enlarging a window may involve the structural opening, the unit itself, flashing and shading. Ask who has checked those connected tasks.
Request a revised drawing or a marked-up sketch with a date. “Use the larger window we discussed” is not a reliable record when different people remember different dimensions.
Record the net change
An original comparison example: a substituted item adds $900 but removes a previously included $300 item. The net materials change is $600 before any separately agreed labor, tax or other charges. Keep both the addition and the credit visible.
Avoid adding the new item in full to your budget while leaving the old allowance untouched. That overstates the forecast. The opposite mistake—removing the old allowance without adding associated labor—understates it.
Use one approval log
Give every proposed change an identifier. Record requested, priced, approved or declined; attach its written scope and the current drawing. Make sure the contractor knows which version is authorized. Contract requirements differ, so check the actual agreement rather than treating this log as a legal substitute.
At each budget review, total approved changes and list proposals separately. A proposal is not yet a commitment, but it can still show why the remaining reserve is under pressure. For US consumer guidance on written agreements, see FTC: avoiding home improvement scams.