Construction Change Order Template

A description of the changed work and why it changed, the price adjustment shown against the running contract sum (original sum, prior change orders, this change, new total), any schedule adjustment, and both parties' signatures. The running-total table matters: it keeps every CO reconciled to the same contract sum your pay applications bill against.

Don't. Unsigned extra work is the most common way subs lose money — 'we'll square up later' becomes an argument about scope, price, and memory. This template says the changed work does not proceed until both parties sign, and holding that line is what makes the paper trail worth anything.

Approved change orders adjust the contract sum, and the changed work becomes billable lines in your schedule of values. On the first pay application after approval, the CO amount shows up in the change-orders total and the new lines carry forward every period after.

Document the directive in writing the same day — a confirming email works — note it in your daily report, and track the costs separately. State law and your contract's claims provisions control from there; the worst position is doing the work with no record at all.