Subcontractors are very frustrated with the unreasonable amount of time it takes to get a change order executed and the number of change orders they have to negotiate after the work is done. In the few months I’ve been consulting, I’ve received more calls regarding change order problems than I could have imagined. Here are some key change order issues you can use to create your own policy and procedures for change orders.
What I’ve learned in setting up comprehensive policy and procedures for subcontractors is that most subcontractors have a change order “procedure”. The procedure for the most part is what I would call “price and wait.” Meaning the subcontractor prices and performs the work and then waits for a change order. The reason they wait is due to common excuse such as, “It’s into the owner for approval or we’re waiting for other subs to submit their price.”