Change orders that protect your margin
Draft a change order with its cost and scope, send it to the homeowner for approval, and once approved it is added to the original contract to calculate the revised contract value before tax. The single biggest source of lost profit — the change you forgot to charge for — closed.
The problem
Scope creep is where residential margin goes to die. A verbal "sure, we can move that wall" that never becomes a signed, priced change order is money the builder simply gives away.
How BuildersBridge solves it
Priced, documented changes
Each change order captures the scope, cost, and timeline impact in writing — no more verbal agreements.
Homeowner approval built in
Send the change order to the client's portal; they review and approve, with a clear record of the agreement.
Approved changes update the contract
An approved change order is added to the original contract to derive the revised contract value before tax. The original contract and the project's internal cost budget remain separate. Schedule changes are recorded in the change order description and updated manually on the project timeline.
Illustrative example
Scope: move kitchen plumbing for island relocation. Price: $2,800 labour and materials. Schedule: adds 3 days to rough-in phase. Client approves in portal. The $2,800 is added to the original contract; you manually update the project timeline based on the recorded schedule impact. Notice and approval timing depends on your contract terms — verify what your agreement requires.
Credits handled cleanly
Negative change orders (credits) are supported, so allowances and deductions are tracked accurately.
Frequently asked questions
- What is change order software?
- Change order software lets a builder document a scope change with its price, get the client's approval, and update the contract — so every change is charged for and recorded.
- How does an approved change order affect the contract?
- When a homeowner approves a change order, its amount is added to the original contract to calculate the revised contract value before tax. The original contract and the project's internal cost budget remain separate records. The builder updates the project timeline manually based on the scope change described in the change order.
- Can clients approve change orders online?
- Yes. Change orders are sent to the homeowner's portal for review and approval, creating a clear paper trail of what was agreed.
- Does approving a change order update the schedule automatically?
- No. Timeline impacts are recorded in the change order's description, and the builder adjusts the project schedule manually. This keeps the schedule under the builder's control rather than automatically shifting dates.
See change order software done right
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