What Is a Change Order in a Remodel? Ours Is Cost + 25%
A change order is a written change to your signed remodel scope. Ours is priced at cost plus 25%, in writing, before the work continues.
A change order is a written change to the scope you signed. It adds work or swaps one thing for another after the job is priced. At Salvation Home Remodeling a change order is priced at cost plus 25%. You get the number in writing before the work continues.
On this page
Change orders are a normal part of general contracting, and most homeowners hear the term for the first time in the middle of a job. This page shows what one is, what causes one, what ours costs, and how to keep the count low.
- A change order changes the signed scope. It is priced and put in writing before the work continues.
- Our rate is cost plus 25%.
- Two things cause one: something hidden that the demo finds, or a change you ask for.
- A permit is not a change order. Permits are billed at cost and are not in the quote.
- A clear written scope is the best way to keep change orders low.
What a change order is
Your quote is a price for a list of work. That list is the scope. When you sign, the scope and the price are set.
A change order is the paper that changes that list after you sign. It says what changes and what the change costs. It is priced and approved before the work happens. Every time.
What causes a change order
There are two causes.
Something hidden. No one can see inside a wall or under a floor before it is open. Here is the example we give on our bathroom page. Drain lines in older homes are commonly cast iron, and cast iron does not last forever. We look at the drain before we price the job, not after the demo. But if a line has to be cut out and replaced once the floor is open, that is a change order at cost plus 25%. You get the number in writing before we do the work.
A change you ask for. You add work, or you swap one material for another, after the scope is signed. That is your right. It is also a change to the price, so it goes on paper first.
What our change orders cost
Our change orders are priced at cost plus 25%. Cost is what the changed work costs us. We add 25% to it.
Here is the math with made-up numbers. If the added work costs us $1,000, the change order is $1,250. These two numbers only show how the formula works. They are not a price for any real job.
We print this rate on our site because you should know it before you sign, not after the floor is open.
How a change order goes, step by step
- We stop. The extra work does not start.
- We show you. If we found something, you see photos of it.
- We price it in writing. The price is cost plus 25%.
- You approve it. The extra work waits for your yes.
- The work continues.
The order of these steps does not change. The price comes before the work.
Change order or not: common cases
Not every extra cost is a change order. This table shows where the line is.
| The case | Is it a change order |
|---|---|
| The demo finds a failed drain line under the floor | Yes. Cost plus 25%, in writing, before the work continues. |
| You add or swap work after you sign | Yes. Same rate, same steps. |
| The permit | No. Permits are billed at cost. They are not in the quote. |
| Kitchen appliances | No. You buy them and we install them. |
| Work that is in the written scope | No. It is in your price. |
How to keep change orders low
You cannot remove every unknown. You can remove most of the avoidable ones.
- Get the scope in writing. A vague scope leaves room for surprises. Read what a written scope protects you from.
- Choose your materials before the job starts. A swap after you sign is a change order.
- Know which parts travel together. If all the lower cabinets are replaced, the countertops must be new too. New cabinets or new countertops usually take the old backsplash out with them. We say this up front, so it is in the scope from the start.
- Ask what is not in the quote. Permits are billed at cost. Appliances are yours to buy. More items are in our guide to what a remodeling quote does not include.
One more date to know. A quote is good for 30 days.
Where you will see this rate
These cost guides state the same rate. If you are pricing a room, start with the guide for that room.
- Bathroom remodel cost in Fort Worth
- Kitchen remodel cost in Fort Worth
- Room addition cost in Fort Worth
- Whole-house remodel cost in Fort Worth
How to get a written scope
It starts with a free walk-through. We look at the house, we write the scope, and we price it. The quote is good for 30 days.
To set a walk-through, call or text 817-210-7117.
Questions homeowners ask
What is a change order in a remodel?
It is a written change to the scope you signed. It adds work or swaps one thing for another, and it states the price of the change.
How much does a change order cost?
Ours are priced at cost plus 25%. You get the number in writing before the work continues.
Can a remodel finish with no change orders?
Yes, it can. A change order only happens when the scope changes. A clear written scope and a careful walk-through lower the chance. No one can see inside a wall before it is open, so no one can promise zero.
Is a permit a change order?
No. Permits are billed at cost and are not in the quote. You know that before you sign.
Do I approve a change order before the work is done?
Yes. A change is priced and approved before the work happens. Every time.