Home→Trust→Change Order Policy

Scope Management

Change Order Policy

Every modification to the agreed scope — cost increase, cost decrease, or material substitution — is documented in writing before any work proceeds. No surprises. No verbal approvals. No disputed bills.

The Core Rule

Nothing changes without a signed document.

A change order is a written amendment to the original contract. It describes exactly what is being added, removed, or substituted, states the price impact clearly, and requires your signature before any additional work begins. This applies to every change — a $200 plumbing adjustment and a $20,000 scope expansion follow the same process.

The most common source of contractor disputes in NYC is not bad workmanship — it's ambiguous scope changes handled verbally. A contractor says "while we're at it, we'll handle that too" and adds it to the final bill without prior approval. That doesn't happen here. If it wasn't in the original contract and there's no signed change order, it doesn't get billed.

The Rule, Simply Stated
No additional work begins without a written, signed change order. No phone approval. No text message approval. No "we'll sort it out later." A written document, signed by both parties, before the work starts. Every time.

What Triggers a Change Order

Three categories of scope changes.

01
Homeowner-Requested Changes
You decide mid-project to upgrade the tile, add a heated floor, move a wall, or change a fixture selection. These are common and expected — renovation decisions evolve when you see the space open up. Each change is priced, documented, and signed before work continues.
02
Unforeseen Existing Conditions
Demolition reveals problems no one knew about: galvanized pipes that must be replaced, a joist that needs sistering, mold behind the tile, asbestos-containing floor tile, or outdated electrical that can't be tied into safely. These are not contractor errors — they're hidden conditions in the existing building. We document them with photographs, explain the issue, and present a change order for any additional work required.
03
Scope Reductions
If you decide to remove something from the scope — skip the heated floor, defer the vanity upgrade, keep the existing window — the contract price is reduced accordingly and documented in a change order. Change orders work in both directions.

The Change Order Process

Step by step.

Step 1
Change is Identified
During the project, a change to the original scope is identified — either by you, by us, or discovered during demolition. Work on the affected area stops until the change is resolved.
Step 2
Documentation & Pricing
We document the change in writing: what is being added, modified, or removed; why it's necessary (or that it's homeowner-elected); the labor and material cost impact; and any timeline impact. For unforeseen conditions, we include photographs of the issue.
Step 3
You Review and Approve
You receive the written change order. You have time to review it, ask questions, and request any adjustments. No pressure. We do not charge for time spent explaining a change order.
Step 4
Both Parties Sign
Once you approve the change order, both parties sign it. The change order becomes an addendum to the original contract. The new contract total reflects the change.
Step 5
Work Proceeds
After signing, work on the change proceeds. The signed change order is filed with the project documentation and referenced in final closeout paperwork.
Trust & Policy Pages
Licensing & Insurance How Our Contract Works › Change Order Policy Warranty & Closeout Permit Process Co-op/Condo Checklist
Change Order Requirements
✓ Written document — always
✓ Description of change
✓ Price impact stated clearly
✓ Timeline impact noted
✓ Photo documentation for hidden conditions
✓ Signed by both parties
✓ Filed with project records
What We Never Do
× Start extra work without written approval
× Accept verbal change approvals
× Add charges to the final bill for unapproved work
× Pressure you to approve a change order quickly
Questions Before You Start?
We're happy to walk through our change order process on a call before you sign anything.

FAQ

Change order questions answered.

A change order is a written amendment to the original contract documenting any modification to the agreed scope. It matters because it prevents the most common construction dispute: surprise charges for work the homeowner thought was included — or didn't know was being done. A signed change order means both parties agreed to the modification before it happened.
No. A licensed contractor cannot legally charge for work outside the original contract scope without a signed change order. If a contractor adds charges for unexpected conditions without your prior written approval, you can dispute the charge with NYC DCWP. We always present a change order and stop work on the affected area until you approve and sign.
Common example: you're doing a bathroom renovation and you decide mid-project to also replace the hallway floor. We price the addition, write a change order, and you sign before we proceed. The new total and any timeline adjustments are reflected in the change order. Simple and clean.
We typically produce a change order within 24 hours of identifying the need. For homeowner-requested changes, we price and document same-day when possible. For unforeseen conditions, we stop work on the affected area, photograph and document the issue, and present the change order the same day or next morning. We don't let projects stall — we move quickly on documentation so decisions can be made.

Want to see our scope and change order process before you commit?

Start with an estimate. We'll walk through the scope, pricing, and process together — no commitment required.

Request a Scope Call (212) 347-2111