New home build in Maine. Financed through a construction loan. Home is almost finished and I just got a final invoice and it is significantly more than the original estimate (which is how much my loan is for). We have made some changes along the way but never signed any change orders. The contractor gave me verbal prices for some of the changes and others I have the prices in text or email. The final invoice shows these as much more than what he told me they were going to be. I had money set aside to pay him for the overages based on what he told me they were going to cost. But now there is a difference of about $50,000 and I don't have that money laying around. Basically I budgeted for the changes I made throughout the build based on the prices he gave me. If I knew everything I chose to add to was going to be double what he told me it would be I wouldn't have added anything. What are my options?
I would need to review a complete copy of your contract with your contractor (and any related documents) to provide you with a more complete answer but, in general, Maine law specifies certain requirements relating to change orders, as follows: “Each change order to a home construction contract must be in writing and becomes a part of and is in conformance with the existing contract. All work shall be performed under the same terms and conditions as specified in the original contract unless otherwise stipulated. The change order must detail all changes to the original contract that result in a revision of the contract price. The previous contract price must be stated and the revised price shall also be stated. Both parties must sign the change order.”