Good Steward · Contracts
Change orders & allowances
Board educational explainer for homeowners comparing remodel bids in King County, Snohomish County, and Seattle. Not legal advice and not a price guide.
Change-order discipline (illustrative)
Habits that protect the schedule
- Freeze scope rooms, openings, and wet locations before long-lead orders when possible.
- List allowances with initial dollar placeholders and a rule for overage approval.
- Require every scope change to state price and calendar impact before work continues.
- Name who may authorize changes (one steward contact beats three overlapping yeses).
- Keep a running change log with dates beside the original contract.
- Do not let selection delays silently become contractor delay claims without documentation.
Change-order FAQ
What is an allowance?
An allowance is a budget placeholder in the contract for selections not yet finalized (for example tile or fixtures). Overages and underages should be spelled out in writing.
When should a change order be signed?
Before the changed work proceeds — with price and schedule impact stated. Handshake changes are how Good Steward projects go sideways.
Does the Board publish standard markup percentages?
No. Markups and contingency percentages vary by firm and contract. Ask each bidder to explain their written policy; do not rely on invented Board averages.
Official resources
Outbound links to government portals only. The Board of Project Stewardship does not issue permits or licenses. Confirm the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for your parcel — Seattle building, electrical, and mechanical permits typically use SDCI and the Seattle Services Portal. Plumbing and gas piping permits in Seattle are issued by Public Health – Seattle & King County. Many other Puget Sound cities use MyBuildingPermit. Always re-verify contractors at WA L&I Verify before hiring.
Board feature
Another Story
Same home. Another story. Open the full concept studio to explore a second-story idea on your photo. Concept preview only, not a bid or permit document.