The 'Change Order' Trap: How a $20k Bathroom Became $45k

We signed a contract for $20,000. It seemed reasonable. We had a detailed conversation about what we wanted: marble tile, a rainfall showerhead, and a double vanity. The contractor nodded and said, "No problem."

The Vague Contract

The contract said: "Remodel Master Bathroom. Supply and install all finishes. Total: $20,000." We thought it covered everything. We were wrong.

The First Surprise

Week 2. The contractor says, "Hey, we're ready for tile. You need to go buy it." I said, "Wait, the contract says you supply and install." He pulled out the contract. "Yeah, I supply it, but the allowance for materials was only $2.00 per square foot. The marble you want is $12.00 per square foot."

Bam. $3,000 extra just for the tile.

The "Unforeseen" Conditions

Then they opened the wall behind the shower. "Oh, this plumbing is old cast iron. We can't connect the new PVC to this. We have to replace the stack down to the basement." Was it really impossible? Or just harder? I didn't know enough to argue. Another $4,500.

The Nickel and Diming

It kept happening. "Oh, you want the tile to go all the way to the ceiling? That's extra labor." "You want a niche for shampoo? That's a framing change. Extra." "You want dimmable lights? The bid was for standard switches."

By the end, we had signed 12 change orders. The final bill was $45,200. We blew our savings and had to put the rest on a credit card.

The Lesson: A "Fixed Price" is only fixed if the Scope of Work is exhaustive. If it's not written down, it's not included. Don't accept allowances; pick your finishes before you sign.