The construction change order process is a routine part of managing commercial projects. For general contractors, change orders are how scope changes are formally documented, priced, approved, and incorporated into the contract.
While change orders are common, the process around them is often inconsistent. Poorly managed change orders can lead to disputes, budget surprises, and strained relationships with owners and subcontractors. Well-managed change orders, on the other hand, create transparency and protect all parties involved.
This article explains the construction change order process in plain terms, how it typically works on commercial projects, and how experienced general contractors manage change orders without disrupting cost control or project momentum.
What Is the Construction Change Order Process?
The construction change order process is the formal workflow used to handle changes to the original contract scope, cost, or schedule after a project is underway.
A change order is not the change itself. It is the written and approved record of that change.
On most commercial projects, the process exists to answer three core questions:
- What changed from the original scope?
- How much does it cost (or save)?
- How does it affect the schedule?
Once approved, the change order becomes part of the contract and is reflected in the project budget and timeline.
Why Change Orders Matter on Commercial Projects
Change orders in construction are often viewed as administrative friction, but they play a critical role in risk management.
For general contractors, a clear change order process:
- Protects against performing unpaid work
- Creates a documented trail for scope changes
- Maintains budget accuracy and forecasting
- Reduces disputes during billing and closeout
For owners, change orders provide visibility into why costs or schedules are changing and allow informed approval decisions.
On projects without a disciplined process, scope changes still happen, but they are handled informally through emails, verbal approvals, or side agreements. This is where problems usually start.
Common Sources of Construction Scope Changes
Construction scope changes can originate from many places. Understanding where they come from helps teams recognize them early.
Typical sources include:
- Owner-requested design changes
- Incomplete or unclear drawings
- Conflicts discovered during construction
- Site conditions that differ from expectations
- Code or authority requirements
- Value engineering decisions
- Coordination issues between trades
Not all scope changes result in cost increases. Some lead to credits or neutral adjustments, but they still require documentation.
How Contractors Traditionally Handle Change Orders
On many commercial projects, managing change orders is still a largely manual process.
A traditional change order workflow often looks like this:
- A scope change is identified in the field
- The project team discusses the change via email or meeting
- A subcontractor submits a price
- The GC reviews and forwards pricing to the owner or consultant
- Approval is given verbally or by email
- A formal change order is created later, sometimes weeks after the work starts
This approach creates gaps between when work is performed and when it is formally approved. Over time, these gaps make it difficult to reconcile costs, especially when multiple changes are in progress.
Typical Change Order Workflow on Commercial Projects
While details vary by contract, most construction change order workflows follow a similar structure.
A simplified workflow includes:
Identification
A scope change is identified by the GC, owner, consultant, or subcontractor.Documentation
The change is described in writing, including scope, reason, and references to drawings or site conditions.Pricing
Subcontractors provide pricing and schedule impacts. The GC reviews for accuracy and completeness.Review
The proposed change is reviewed internally and then submitted to the owner or consultant.Approval
The change is formally approved, rejected, or revised.Execution and Tracking
Once approved, the change is incorporated into the contract value, budget, and schedule.
Experienced teams try to complete as much of this process as possible before work proceeds, even when schedules are tight.
Common Challenges in Managing Change Orders
Managing change orders becomes difficult when processes are unclear or inconsistent.
Common issues include:
- Work starting before approval
- Missing documentation or backup
- Pricing disputes after work is complete
- Multiple changes bundled together without clarity
- Budget reports that lag behind actual commitments
- Difficulty tracking pending versus approved changes
These challenges are rarely caused by a lack of effort. They usually stem from fragmented workflows and information living in too many places.
Best Practices Used by Experienced General Contractors
Seasoned general contractors tend to follow a few consistent principles when managing change orders.
Common best practices include:
- Documenting potential changes as soon as they are identified
- Separating proposed, approved, and rejected changes clearly
- Requiring written approval before authorizing work whenever possible
- Tracking cost and schedule impacts separately
- Maintaining a clear audit trail of communication and approvals
- Updating budgets immediately after approval
In practice, these habits reduce surprises at month-end and during project closeout.
How the Industry Is Evolving
The construction change order process is evolving as projects become more complex and teams more distributed.
Many contractors are moving away from email-driven workflows and spreadsheets toward centralized systems that:
- Standardize change order workflows
- Track status and approvals in one place
- Link changes directly to budgets and contracts
- Provide real-time visibility into pending exposure
Some teams use modern construction management platforms, such as Buildend, as an example of how change orders can be managed with more structure and less manual effort. The goal is not speed for its own sake, but clarity and consistency.
Conclusion
The construction change order process exists to manage uncertainty in a controlled way. Scope changes are unavoidable on commercial projects, but confusion around them is not.
For general contractors, understanding how change orders should flow — from identification to approval — is the foundation of cost control and risk management. Clear documentation, disciplined workflows, and timely updates help ensure that changes are handled fairly and transparently.
Understanding this process is the first step toward running more predictable and financially stable construction projects.