What a fence change order is for
Fence jobs change on install day: the owner wants the line moved two feet, adds a second gate, or the auger hits a buried slab. A change order with the new footage and price, signed before the work, keeps the job moving and the final bill clean.
What to put on a fence change order
- The original estimate.
- What changed and why.
- Added footage, gates or surcharges.
- Credits for removed work.
- The new total.
- Signature first.
A worked example
With the line staked, the owner adds a run along the side yard and a second gate. Six holes hit a buried concrete patio. They skip the old fence haul-away because a neighbor wants the chain link.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Added side yard run * | 40 | ft | $27.50 | $1,100.00 |
| Second walk gate * | 1 | each | $225.00 | $225.00 |
| Break through buried concrete, per post | 6 | each | Your price | |
| Credit: old chain link left for neighbor | -150 | ft | Your price |
The added run and gate reuse the calculator's prices; the haul-away credit comes off. Put the original total in Original amount.
* Typical price from our free fence cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items fence contractors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Wood privacy fence, installed | ft | Height, picket style and post spacing. |
| Vinyl privacy fence, installed | ft | Height, color and style. |
| Chain link fence, installed | ft | Height, gauge and coating. |
| Aluminum or steel ornamental fence | ft | Height and style; pool code if it encloses a pool. |
| Walk gate | each | Width and hardware. |
| Double drive gate | each | Width; say whether it needs a drop rod or wheel. |
| Remove and haul away old fence | ft | Including old posts and concrete footings if pulled. |
| Post set in concrete | each | Depth per local code or your standard. |
| Rock or root drilling surcharge | each | Per post hole that hits rock or roots. |
| Grade change or stepping | ft | Sloped yards that need stepped or racked panels. |
| Stain or seal wood fence | ft | After the wood dries, often weeks later. |
| Permit and survey review | each | Many towns require a permit; the property line is the owner's to confirm. |
| Fence repair, replace boards or posts | hour | Repairs priced by time and materials. |
Terms and deposit language for fence
- Deposit. A deposit at signing orders materials and holds the install date. Some states cap deposits on fence and other home improvement work, so look up yours.
- Payment. Balance due when the fence is complete and the gates swing and latch.
- Warranty. Say how long you cover workmanship, such as posts and gates, and that materials carry the maker's warranty. Wood movement and checking are natural, not defects.
- The property owner is responsible for the property line location; you install where the owner or survey marks it.
- Utilities are located before digging; private lines like sprinklers or invisible dog fences are the owner's to mark.
- HOA approval, if needed, is the owner's to get before install.
How to fill it in
- Put in the original estimate number and amount.
- Write what changed in the reason box, plainly.
- Add the new work; type a minus quantity for any credit.
- Fill in the days added.
- Print it for a signature on site, or send it from Koira to sign by phone.
Free tools for fence
The same change order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
More for fence contractors: how fence contractors run on Koira.