How to Avoid New Home Building Delays

In my previous article, I talked about how new home buildings face cost overruns because of two main reasons. One is because of change orders, and the other is because of construction delays. Of course, there are other possible causes of cost overruns, but those two are the most common ones.

Change orders

Change orders can be mostly avoided by homeowners with a home-building checklist. Careful planning with an architect, designer, and home builder is key to success.

But how about construction delays?

I have been building homes and working on construction projects for years. People who know me know that I am a planner and schedule everything down to the last detail. However, even with meticulous planning, construction delays can still occur. Despite that, you still should plan because proper planning is still cheaper than no planning.

What are the main possible causes of home building delays, and how can we avoid them?

Lack of staff

During peak seasons, construction companies often struggle to find enough qualified workers. This can lead to delays as projects compete for the same pool of labor. To mitigate this, consider starting your build during off-peak seasons or ensuring your builder has a reliable network of subcontractors.

Material shortages

Supply chain disruptions can cause significant delays. Ordering materials well in advance and having alternative suppliers can help keep your project on track.

Lack of planning

There are still home builders who think that whenever they have two or more ongoing projects, it will be hard for them to plan or schedule anything. Lucky for homeowners, that is not true. There are so many planning tools that homebuilders can use, but there is a lack of usage by them.

As a homeowner, you should ask your homebuilder for a schedule. If your homebuilder can't present it, then ask him immediately to prepare it. Without a schedule, there is a 100% guarantee of delay, and you will never know when your home will be finished.

If your homebuilder has a schedule, ask how flexible he is in case of a change or delay. For example, what will happen if drywall is delayed? How quickly can he adopt the schedule? And how will he measure the impact of the delay? This is a tough question for homebuilders, but reliable and good contractors can easily adopt and forecast changes.

Your homebuilder says he can't forecast because anything can happen

Yes, he is right. Anything can happen, but that doesn't mean he can work without a plan. I have seen planning tools and Excel spreadsheets where the schedule adjusts based on the current situation and delays on site.

Material delivery delays

Your homebuilder can sometimes face material delivery delays. If you see a significant delay, you should also check that with the supplier, and maybe you can sweet talk them into expediting the delivery.

Cash flow issues

Not many talk about it. But rarely is home building delayed because a contractor has cash flow issues. Usually, there will be lots of staff changes, and material deliveries will be delayed. This can cause a significant amount of frustration and have a negative impact on the overall project timeline.

Main rule

The main rule to avoid new home building delays is to build transparent relationships with home builders. He must understand your situation, and you as a homeowner must understand the struggles your home builder faces. This understanding and open communication will help ensure a smooth and efficient timeline for your new home's construction. Organize regular meetings if it is possible, or ask your homebuilder to send regular follow-up check-ups and status updates on the home.