Free homeowner checklist

What Should Be in a Change Order? Checklist

Review a proposed renovation change order for scope, price, credits, timing, markup, and written approval details before you accept it.

Confirm the added or removed scope is specific Check price, credits, allowances, markup, and tax treatment Look for schedule or completion-date impact Confirm the approval record is clear before work proceeds

This checklist answersDoes this proposed change order contain enough information to understand the decision later?

Review scope, money, timing, approval, and possible overlap before you treat a proposed change as approved.

ScopeThe change describes exactly what is being added, removed, substituted, or corrected.

ScopeThe room, trade, material, drawing, selection, or prior scope reference is clear enough to identify the work.

PriceAdded cost and any credit or deleted-scope reduction are shown clearly.

PriceAllowance differences, markup, tax, freight, or other pricing treatment is explained where relevant to the contract.

TimingAny schedule, sequencing, or completion-date impact is stated or confirmed as no change.

ApprovalThe change is identified as proposed or approved, rather than leaving its status ambiguous.

ApprovalThe written approval record includes the date and the parties/authorization method required by the contract.

HistoryYou compared the change with the original scope and prior changes for possible overlap before approval.

Change-order review0 of 8 checked8 items still need review.

Checklist progress0%

Change-order requirements vary by contract and jurisdiction. This checklist helps organize the review; it is not a substitute for the terms of your contract or legal advice.

Once the change is approved, add it to RenoTally so the approved total and payment balance update.Start free with your first project change, then keep tracking for $19 per project.

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How to use this what should be in a change order

A useful change order should make the new decision understandable months later. This checklist helps you look for the basic information that explains what changed, what it costs, and what else it affects.

Use the result as a conversation starter

These homeowner tools organize the information already in your contract, selections, change orders, invoices, and closeout records. They are designed to surface missing information and questions before the next decision.

Save the supporting documents and confirm any contract-specific or jurisdiction-specific requirement directly with the appropriate professional. RenoTally does not decide whether a contractor charge is legally valid or whether a payment is legally required.

Keep the result connected to the running project total

Once an allowance overage, credit, approved change, or payment becomes real, add it to the same running project record. That keeps the free decision tools from becoming another disconnected spreadsheet or note.

Stop recalculating it by hand

Turn the calculation into a running project.

Create your renovation or rehab in RenoTally, add your first change free, and keep every addition, credit, contractor payment, and pending decision tied to one live total.

First change free $19 per project No subscription

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