The old vanity comes out and the contractor finds damage behind it. You need a decision, often while the room is already out of use. A clear change-order process makes that decision less hurried and leaves a record of what you approved.
For budgeting purposes, a change order is a written adjustment to the agreed work. Its legal effect depends on your agreement and local requirements. This guide helps organize the information to request; it does not decide liability or interpret your contract.
Get the finding before the price
Ask what was found, where it is, and what assessment supports the proposed response. Photos can document a condition, but they do not replace the expertise needed to diagnose it. If specialist input is needed, identify that step separately from the repair itself.
Distinguish necessary work from an optional improvement offered at the same time. Replacing damaged material and choosing a more expensive finish should not be bundled so tightly that you cannot see the cost of each decision.
Use a short written change record
| Field | What it should say |
|---|---|
| Reason | Observed condition or owner-requested change |
| Work | Specific tasks, products, and limits |
| Price | Added amount, credits, and pricing basis |
| Timing | Extra workdays, visits, or delivery dependencies |
| Budget | Revised contract total and reserve remaining |
| Approval | Who approved it and when |
If the full extent is still unknown, ask how that uncertainty will be handled: a separate assessment, a defined allowance, or another clearly described arrangement. A blank price is not a fixed price. Refer to your agreement before approving time-and-materials work or any other open-ended basis.
Keep the reserve separate from the contract
Here is a hypothetical example. The original contract is $12,000 and you hold a $2,000 reserve outside it. An approved repair adds $850, while removing an optional $200 item provides a credit. The net change is $650. The revised contract becomes $12,650 and the remaining reserve is $1,350.
The total planned funding is still $14,000. Do not add the full original reserve on top of the revised contract when tracking what remains; $650 of it has already been allocated. The contingency worksheet explains this distinction with more examples.
Separate safety needs from optional decisions
If an urgent condition requires making the area safe, ask the appropriate professional to explain that immediate work and document it. Keep the later permanent repair and decorative choices identifiable. This guide does not recommend delaying a safety response while you negotiate finishes.
For moisture-related findings, EPA’s guidance explains why the source of water needs attention. Ask how the proposed scope addresses the cause as well as damaged finishes.
Close the loop after the work
Keep the approved change with the original quote and final invoice. Record any revised product model or warranty information. Check that the final bill includes both additions and credits and that the resulting scope matches what was completed.
Before a project begins, the quote comparison checklist can help you identify this process in each proposal. During the work, a short decision log is easier to maintain than reconstructing approvals from scattered messages afterward.
Written with AI assistance. Sources and calculations checked September 8, 2026. How we prepare our guides. Questions or corrections: hello@homestria.com.