Change Order (Variation)
A change order is a written record that the job grew past the original quote, with the new price. Get the client to agree before you do the extra work. A signed form or a text is enough.
What it means
Almost every job changes once you are inside it. A wall needs more prep than expected, or a client adds a request mid-job. A change order is the paper trail for that: what changed, why, and the new number. It does not need to be formal. A one-line text saying "this adds $180, reply yes to go ahead" counts.
The timing matters more than the paperwork. Price it and agree it before you do the work, and it is a normal part of the job. If the client first sees it on the final invoice, a dispute is waiting. "But you agreed on site" is a much weaker argument than a text message that says so.
Halfway through a kitchen job, the client asks for an extra shelf. You text: "Adding the shelf, extra $65, OK?" They reply "yes." That text is your change order.
Doing the extra work first because saying no on site feels awkward. You then hope the client will not push back when the higher number shows up on the invoice.
See also
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