No one likes unpleasant surprises—especially when they come with a price tag. In home remodeling, those surprises often show up as change orders—mid-project adjustments to the design, materials, or scope of work that weren’t part of the original plan. While some changes are necessary, many can be avoided with the right preparation.
When the design and preconstruction phases are approached with care and intention, you set the stage for a smoother construction process—one that stays on schedule and on budget.
In this blog, we’ll explore how early planning, thoughtful decision-making, and clear communication with your design-build team can help you avoid costly and disruptive change orders. Let’s look at how to lay the groundwork for a successful, stress-free remodel.
The Problem with Change Orders
Change orders come from a homeowner’s desire for special elements or revisions not included in the original plan. During construction, change orders can cause unnecessary disruptions throughout the building process. Errors are more likely to happen when changes are made.
Every person working on the project has a role, and changes can sometimes not get communicated across the board. This can cause unfavorable results. Steering clear of change orders is vital, and arming yourself with the right knowledge is critical to achieving this goal.
Enjoy a Smooth, Efficient Construction Process and Avoid Costly Change Orders
Communicate Your Ideas During the Design and Preconstruction Phase
At Action Builders, we believe that the earlier things are discussed, the better. During the sales stage, design agreement, and preconstruction phase, it is important to communicate all your ideas to the design consultant so they can accurately incorporate the project’s scope of work into the contract. If there are options being considered or if additional scope may be added at a future date, that should be noted in the contract.
Key takeaway: Communicate your needs from the outset so your original executed plan aligns fully with your vision!
Explore Your Dream Home’s Details Upfront with the Design Team
During the preconstruction phase, it is easy to accidentally add scope without realizing it. You may show the designer a photo of a fireplace that you love and absolutely want to recreate, but the marble on the wall in the picture could be extremely costly, and the insert would mean you would have to install a new gas line.
Key takeaway: Understand that little things can be expensive, and the earlier your desires are explored, organized and planned, the less expensive and more inclusive to the overall contract they can be for everyone.
Think Through How Your Project Will Affect Your Existing House
The most common change orders are elements added to the existing house during construction. Siding, roofing, drainage, wiring, etc., are all things homeowners add during the construction phase of their project.
Key takeaway: Often, what started as an addition project grows into a renovation that includes more of the existing house.
Understand How Planning Your Project Makes the Building Process More Efficient
When your project is well planned, Action Builders has the time to get the materials on-site, and the trades have time to get there and get it done in one step versus several steps over several days.
Key takeaway: Details need to be designed and planned out ahead of time so that when the trades arrive on-site, there is no question about what they should do.
Avoid Errors by Preventing Change Orders
The more details people must remember, and the more things get switched due to change orders, the more chances there are for errors across the board—from vendors to homeowners and your design-build team.
Key takeaway: It is better to make decisions and sign off on them before construction starts rather than trying to micromanage and add changes in real time while the workers are on-site.
Ensure Clear Scope Definition
Failure to define the scope in detail early on can lead to change orders that increase project costs and delays the project’s completion.
Key takeaway: A well-defined, simple, and concise scope will prevent the need for change orders.
Provide Detailed Project Specifications
Change orders often result from incomplete specifications. Your project’s specifications should outline the work elements, materials required, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The delivery of materials, services, and payment schedules should all be documented in detail. The work to be performed, timeline, schedule, performance standards, and other requirements should all be discussed and outlined.
Key takeaway: Missing specifications can result in change orders, so once again, planning is vital.
Communicate to Minimize the Possibility of Change Orders
Effective communication is vital when partnering with a design-build company to remodel your home. It may feel awkward to talk about the smallest details upfront, but it’s a necessary part of the process and will pay off in the end. Communicate in an open and honest way, and if you don’t understand something, ask questions! When the design-build team and homeowners both communicate in a transparent way, taking ownership of the project’s goals, success will result.
Key takeaway: You’ll minimize the possibility of change orders by over-communicating throughout the design and preconstruction phases.
Our Design-Build Company Can Take Your Project from Start to Finish with Ease
Approaching your home renovations can feel challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. As a design-build company, our team at Action Builders takes projects from their initial consultation to construction completion, and work with you the whole way. We design to your budget and help allocate funds to the parts of your project that will get you the most bang for your buck.
Learn how Action Builders’ design-build process can make your remodel a total success!
