Laundry Room Change Orders
Some clients are convinced that all contractors use laundry room change orders to jack up the price after the project is started. While this is true for unsavory contractors it does not represent everyone.
Unsavory contractors typically are not licensed, insured, do not acquire building permits for your laundry room and/or work for cash. Another warning sign are contractors who provide a low estimate, little or no detail contracts, and contracts that do not include professionally developed plans and specifications.
Why are There Laundry Room Change Orders?
Laundry room change orders can be disruptive, costly, and slow things down. Most contractors do not want or like change orders. Contractors would love to itemize every conceivable issue. However, that’s impossible. Nobody can see through drywall to determine if there is wiring, pipes, or a crumbly wall behind it. Change Orders should not be feared. They are a normal part of every remodel.
When Remodeling my Laundry Room, Should I Plan for Unexpected Scenarios?
Unexpected circumstances can add to your remodeling costs and result in major delays to your project. Newer homes typically have fewer surprises than 
older homes. It is important to understand that a laundry room is a high water and energy use area. Laundry rooms also experience high moisture and high heat.
Consider for a moment that for a typical family of four, the number of loads of laundry per year is 416-520. Over 30 years, this family will perform between 12,400 – 15,600 loads of laundry.
Considering laundry preparation time (gathering and sorting), washing, drying, folding, hanging, and putting away, the average household will do about 12 hours and 40 minutes of laundry per month. That’s 152 hours or 9,120 minutes per year! Over 30 years, this comes to about 4,560 hours! This is like working more than 2 full years doing nothing but laundry.
That’s an enormous amount of use!
There are other things that cannot be seen until after the drywall is removed. Items such as water and sewer pipes, electrical wires, and timbers. Most unseen laundry room problems occur around and/or in the drainage and dryer exhaust systems.
Ensure the Laundry Room Change Order Procedure Is Written in Your Contract
You should not need to ask your contractor to include a detailed procedure for change orders in your contract. California requires that every home improvment contract include the procudure for change orders. Why? This shows you in writing what to expect and it minimizes the back-and-forth between you and your contractor.
It is in the best interest of you and your contractor to include a written change order procedure in your contract. This will keep you up to date on the total cost of your laundry room remodel. It will also tell you how many additional days the change order will add to your project. Most importantly, a laundry room change order ensures everyone understands and agrees on the additional price, scope, and duration of the remodel.
Always Hire a Reliable and Dependable Contractor to Remodel your Laundry Room
Always work with a trustworthy contractor like DAD’s Construction . We are experts in laundry room, bathroom, kitchen, and full interior remodeling who can manage projects in an efficient manner. DAD’s Construction will do everything to minimize the possibility of change orders. Our team will make sure we have all the necessary information to prepare a proposal that meets your requirements. Rest assured that we will provide you with a detailed, by line-item contract. We will make sure that the contents of this agreement are properly and clearly communicated to you. If you have questions or need updates regarding your project, we will always answer your inquiries.
How Can I Receive More Information on Remodeling my Laundry Room?
If you would like more information on enjoying the best laundry room, bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling experience in Orange County, call Dan at (949) 380-0177 or at dan@dadsconstruction.com for a free in home consultation. DAD’s serves all of South Orange County California. This includes Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Newport Beach, and Aliso Viejo.
