PROPERTYSPARK ARTICLE

Top Reasons For Delays in New Home Construction

If you are in the real estate industry, you already know how frustrating delayed home completion can be. Not only is it frustrating, but it can also significantly affect your budget and, consequently, your revenue. 

Delays occur for many reasons, some of which can be avoidable while others are out of your control. Regardless of the cause, home construction delays can be avoided if you know what to look out for in the very beginning. 

Here are some common reasons for delays in home construction and what to do to solve each individual problem.

Weather

Weather is among the leading causes of construction delays. Unfortunately, there is nothing much you can do about abrupt weather changes. However, you can minimize the effect of weather on your projects by scheduling work during seasons when the weather is less likely to go to the adverse end. 

Even when the weather is ideal, it is important to be prepared for the worst because the weather can change abruptly. Also, you may consider providing your team with the appropriate gear for the weather and adjusting working hours to ensure your workers are on-site when the conditions are ideal.

Poor Communication

Poor communication is an ever-present problem when executing projects. Whether it is communication between the client and the contractor, the contractor and their employees, or suppliers, any communication breakdown will cause delays. 

The best way to prevent poor communication is to have a system stipulating how communication flows. Many contractors rely on project management applications to ensure everyone is on the same page regarding a project and no communication falls through the cracks. 

Project management applications achieve this by ensuring that all communication concerning a project, from client requirements to placing orders, taking inventory, and employee management, are on the same platform.

Unforeseen Circumstances

While the planning phase is the most critical part of a project, some circumstances often remain unseen. For example, you could discover mid-project that ground stability at some places is not like you anticipated, which can mean having to readjust how you work around the problem. 

At other times, you may consider changing your original idea to meet demands you never anticipated in the original plan. Like poor weather, some unforeseen circumstances are unavoidable. Still, it is always important to make allowances in your budget and timelines for the unexpected to avoid going way out of schedule when they arise.

Lack of Skilled Labor

The construction industry is among the riskiest careers, and not many young people are choosing it as a career path. As a result, labor shortage is becoming a huge concern in the construction industry, with the few experienced people already working for major construction companies or as contractors. 

If you work with smaller companies, problems with accessing skilled labor can result in delayed completion of projects. The only way to avoid delays when constructing your dream home is by hiring a professional builder with a record of making the building journey as stress-free as possible from the start to the end.

Poor Planning

Failing to plan equals planning to fail. But, the level of planning also matters. So before breaking ground, ensure your planning is foolproof while considering every aspect of the project, including allowances for the unexpected. 

Proper planning ensures that your budget, time allocation, cost of labor, and resources are as close to your expectations as possible, thus minimizing the chances of delays and budget overruns. 

Today, many contractors and builders rely on technology to plan a project, which helps keep errors to a minimum. There are several planning tools in the market. You just have to get one that best fits your project and is within your budget.