Lost in Translation: The Real Risk of Misunderstood Change Orders

One Misunderstood Update Can Derail the Entire Project

You’ve been there.

A change order gets issued. The client wants something moved, resized, or redone. You tell the crew. You think they heard you. But the work keeps going — based on the old plan.

Now you’re staring at:

• Rework

• Lost time

• Wasted materials

• Angry clients

• Blame and finger-pointing

And all because someone didn’t understand a single update.

Change Orders Are Common And Costly

According to a McKinsey report, over 30% of construction work involves some kind of rework, often tied to changes mid-project.

Change orders are a normal part of construction. But when the message doesn’t reach everyone, clearly and in their language, the cost gets real:

• Missed deadlines

• Budget overruns

• Frustrated teams

• Legal disputes

Communication is where change orders succeed or fail.

Where It Breaks Down

Change orders are often delivered via:

• Email

• Group text

• Whiteboard notes

• Word of mouth

But here’s the problem:

• Some crew members don’t read English

• Others weren’t there for the update

• Details are lost in translation

• Verbal updates aren’t tracked or repeated accurately

So work continues, on the wrong plan.

Real Example: A $6,000 Misunderstanding

A contractor in Georgia issued a change order to shift a doorway by 3 feet. The update was emailed to the site lead, who spoke fluent English. But the framing crew, mostly Spanish-speaking, never got the message.

The door went in per the original plan. Drywall followed. Paint went up.

When the client walked the site, chaos.

It took 2 days and $6,000 in labor and materials to fix. All because one instruction never reached the right people.

The ROI of a Single Saved Change Order

Let’s say BuilderComs prevents just one botched update a month:

• That’s 10+ labor hours saved

• $500–$1,000 in material waste avoided

• Client confidence maintained

• Reputation preserved

• Crews stay on schedule

And that’s just one instance. Most contractors issue multiple change orders per week.

You Can’t Afford to Let Change Orders Get Lost

If your crew speaks multiple languages and most do, then delivering change orders without translation is a liability.

You’re opening yourself to:

• Rework

• Delays

• Disputes

• Safety hazards

• Lost trust

Fix it with a tool built to deliver instructions clearly, instantly, and in the right language.

Change the Plan Without Changing the Pace

BuilderComs: The Client Communication Hub for Construction

Keep your clients updated, protect your time, and deliver better projects, all in one place.

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