Change order
A change order is a written agreement, signed by both parties, that changes the work, price or schedule of a contract that's already signed.
Updated October 13, 2026 · 1 min read
What it should say
- Which contract it changes, and a change order number.
- Exactly what work is added, removed or substituted.
- The price change and the new contract total.
- The effect on the schedule or completion date.
- Signatures and dates.
Some states set minimums. In California, a home improvement change order isn't enforceable against the homeowner unless it states the scope of work, the amount added or subtracted, and the effect on progress payments or the completion date.
Change order or amendment?
A change order adjusts the work within the contract's terms. An amendment changes the terms themselves. See change order vs contract amendment, or our step-by-step guide to writing a change order. In SignMaster, keep your change order as a template and have the customer sign on your phone with Sign in person before the extra work starts.
Questions? Answers.
Can a change order be signed electronically?
Generally, yes. The ESIGN Act and state UETA laws give electronic signatures legal effect, including on change orders. Check your contract for any rule about how changes must be approved.
Sources
- California Business and Professions Code § 7159.6, extra work and change orders · leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- 15 U.S.C. § 7001, ESIGN Act general rule and consumer consent (govinfo) · govinfo.gov