Change order form for construction projects
Updated · Reviewed by Israel Margulies, founder and CEO of High Point GPS
A change order form records a change to a construction contract before the work is done: what changes and why, what it adds or takes off the price, how many days it adds to the schedule, the new contract sum and completion date, and the signatures of the owner and contractor.
Most construction disputes start with extra work that was done on a handshake. A signed change order fixes the scope, the price and the time for each change, so the final bill matches what both sides agreed.
Number change orders in order and keep a running total of the contract sum, so anyone can see how the price got from the original contract to today. This form is a general template, not legal advice; follow the change procedure in your contract.
Change order
Fields: Project name and address · Owner · Contractor · Contract date · Change order no. · Date · Requested by
Log columns: Description of change · Labor · Materials · Equipment · Amount
- Reason for the change. Owner request, design change, site conditions, code requirement or other (describe).
- Contract sum. Original contract sum, net change by earlier change orders, this change order, new contract sum.
- Contract time. Days added or removed by this change order, and the new completion date.
Fill it in the right way
- Fill in the project, the parties and the next change order number.
- Describe the change clearly enough that someone new to the job could price it.
- Price it by labor, materials and equipment, and total it.
- State why the change is needed.
- Update the contract sum and the completion date.
- Get both signatures before the changed work starts.
Tips
- Price equipment time from real rates per hour, so the change order holds up.
- Attach drawings, photos or the RFI that led to the change.
- Write "no change" in the time section when there is none, so it isn't argued later.
- Keep a change order log for the project with each number, amount and status.
Do it in FleetZap
- FleetZap keeps every machine's hours and cost per hour, the numbers behind equipment lines on a change order.
- Parts, labor and outside repair costs from every work order roll up to each machine.
- Crews scan a machine's QR label to report a problem or do a pre-use check on their phone.
- Finished work orders can be invoiced through QuickBooks Online.
FleetZap Maintenance
Work orders, PM, parts, compliance, assets and KPIs. Explore FleetZap Maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
What is a change order in construction?
A written agreement between the owner and the contractor that changes the contract's scope, price or time after it was signed.
What should a change order include?
The project and parties, a change order number and date, a description of the change and the reason, the cost broken down, the change to the schedule, the new contract sum and completion date, and both signatures.
Who signs a change order?
The owner and the contractor, and often the architect or engineer when the contract says so.
Can work start before a change order is signed?
Contracts usually say no, except for emergencies. Doing work first is how unpaid extras happen.