Change Orders: What They Really Mean (And What They Don't)

When most people hear the words "change order," they immediately think: "Oh great, here comes an extra charge."
And honestly... I don’t blame them.

Somewhere along the line, the meaning of a change order got a little twisted.
It used to be simple:
If you, the client, decided to add something to your project — or remove something — that changed the price, and we’d document it with a change order.

Pretty fair, right?
You make a change → we update the agreement → everyone’s clear → no surprises.

But lately, it seems like some contractors have started using change order as a cover-up — a way to fix their own mistakes.
For example:

• They forgot to include something important in their original bid...

• They overlooked a major part of the project...

• They underbid the job to "win" it...
  ...and now they’re trying to "change order" their way out of the hole.

That’s not what a change order is supposed to be.
If the contractor made the mistake — that’s on them. Not you. Period.

In our projects, we treat change orders the way they were meant to be:

• You add a new patio area? Change order.

• You want an extra light installed after the original design? Change order.

• You decide mid-project to swap artificial grass brands? Change order.

But if we miss something?
That’s our responsibility — and we fix it without asking you to pay more.
Because that's the right way to do it.

At the end of the day, change orders should be a tool for your flexibility, not a contractor’s escape hatch.
Clear communication. Fairness. Accountability. That's how we operate — and it’s how every project should be run.