In most construction jobs, the owner
sooner or later asks the contractor to
perform work that is not included in
the original contract. Usually, these
requests are made orally. For a
contractor, fulfilling these requests is
risky, since disputes can come up later
about whether the work was an
"extra" or part of the original
contract. Getting the request in
writing will usually prevent such
disputes. However, if for some reason
you don't get a written order, you can
improve your chances of getting paid
if you know some of the legal principles
governing these situations.
Written Change Orders
Most construction contracts give
the owner the right to ask for
additions or changes to the work the
contract covers. However,