One of the most valuable services an Owner’s Representative provides is an independent review of every proposed change order.
A change order should not be approved simply because additional work has been identified. Before recommending approval, I ask two questions:
1. Does the proposed work actually solve the problem?
A technically inadequate solution can result in the owner paying for work that ultimately fails to address the underlying issue. Every proposed repair should be evaluated to confirm that it meets the project’s performance requirements—not just that it is the easiest or least expensive option for the contractor.
2. Is the proposed cost reasonable for the work being performed?
Even when additional work is justified, the pricing should be reviewed for fairness and consistency with the project. Owners deserve to understand how costs were developed and whether the proposed amount represents reasonable value.
Recently, on a large condominium restoration project, I recommended that two separate change orders not be approved. One proposed repair did not adequately address the water intrusion problem it was intended to solve. The second appeared to be priced higher than the work justified and required further review before any recommendation could be made.
Protecting an owner’s interests requires evaluating both the technical solution and the financial proposal. Approval should be based on confidence in both.