A change order is a written amendment to a construction contract that adds, removes or changes work and adjusts the price and the schedule to match. Both sides sign it before the changed work starts. A good contractor uses one for everything outside the original scope, and nothing gets done on a handshake.
What causes them
Things found behind the walls: rot, old wiring, a broken sewer line. Upgrades you decide you want once you can see the space. Corrections the city asks for during plan check. Materials that turn out to be unavailable and need a substitute.
How to end up with fewer
Settle the full scope and pick your finishes before signing. Investigate what is behind the walls before demolition on an older house. Hold a contingency yourself rather than hoping you will not need it. And insist on clear dollar amounts held for anything unselected, so that when you do choose, the adjustment is arithmetic instead of an argument.
Los Angeles County figures, reviewed 2026-10-29 by America General Contractors, California contractor licence CSLB 1083262. Planning ranges, not a quote, and not legal advice. We confirm the current rules for your parcel before anything gets drawn.
