A change order is a written change to work that has already been agreed. It sits on top of the original quote and the original contract, and it often carries its own price and its own promise about how long the new work will last. When a bathroom change or a flooring change turns into more than the first plan, the change order is where the final bill gets decided, one line at a time.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

What the document has to say

Read it as a separate contract. It should name the reason for the change, describe the new work in full, state the added cost as its own line, and show any change to the finish date. It should say whether the new work is covered by the same warranty as the original job or by a separate one, and for how long. If it does not say these things, it is not finished, however reasonable the contractor sounds on the phone.

Ask before you sign

Ask whether the new line replaces an old line or adds to it. If it replaces, the total should move down, not up. Put the original quote next to the change order and check each item against it. Ask which materials are included, and whether the material named is the one you chose or an equal substitute. Ask who found the problem that caused the change, and ask for a written description and photographs of what was found behind the wall or under the floor before you approve the work.

Keep the paper in one place

Keep the original quote, every change order, and the signed copy of each in one folder, with the date each was signed written on the first page. When the final invoice arrives, the folder is what lets you match each charge to a page you agreed to. Without it, the invoice is only the contractor's word.

Do not start on a verbal yes

A short pause costs a day. A verbal agreement costs the argument that follows. If the crew is ready to start the added work and the paper is not, tell them to wait until the change order is signed. If the change is for equipment or a room layout the hospice team needs, ask the team to confirm in writing what they require before the crew begins.

For the other questions to settle before a home change, begin with the Start Here page.