The single biggest reason commercial owners say their last build went sideways comes down to one thing: change orders. Specifically, the change orders a builder writes to cover what they should have priced at the start. Bad weather, labour shortages, picky inspectors all show up on a project. They almost never double the budget. Change-order creep does.

Where it starts

Most change-order creep starts on the day the price is written. A builder is trying to win the work. The drawings are 80% complete. The builder prices what's on paper and leaves the rest for "later." Later shows up two months into construction.

How it compounds

One change order at framing. Another at mechanical rough-in. A third when the finishes hit the site and don't match the order. By the time you're three-quarters of the way through, the number you signed is gone and you're paying whatever it takes to finish.

The questions to ask before you sign

Ask any builder how many change orders they've written on their last three projects, and what caused them. Ask whether the price is set off final drawings or preliminary ones. Ask what their policy is on owner-initiated scope changes versus builder-discovered scope. The answers will tell you everything you need to know.

We build commercial spaces from 5,000 to 15,000 sqft (larger when needed) for owners and developers who want the number they sign to be the number they pay.