Are you renovating or building a home and pulling your hair out because of materials delays? Does it feel like prices seem to fluctuate by the hour? Supply chain disruptions have been problematic in the construction industry for a couple of years now, and we’ve had to deal with a lot of issues, from soaring lumber prices to months’ delays on windows and doors. Here are a few suggestions to help you keep your project on schedule despite supply chain disruptions:
- Order early. This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many clients don’t understand which materials need to be selected and ordered before construction even begins. Critical items are windows and doors, trusses and appliances. These items can set a project back by weeks and even months if not ordered early enough.
- Shop your vendors. If a vendor is giving you unworkable lead times, do not be afraid to shop around until you find a company who can provide you the item you need within the right time frame. This is one of the services our team provides our clients, and it takes a great deal of persistence sometimes to get what you want when you need it. There was a time when a specific kind of lumber was not available within the state of Florida, so a member of our team had to drive to Georgia to get it. Be willing to stretch beyond your comfort zone when vendors like Home Depot and Lowes are unable to provide the materials you need.
- Be flexible. In this market, you may have to be flexible on both your design and your budget. Luckily there is such a variety in finish items out there, you can usually find an alternative if something isn’t in stock or if prices go up.
- Work with a one-stop shop builder. When selecting a builder for your project, try to find someone who provides turn-key services. At Nelson Construction and Renovations, we provide full design-build services – our in-house design team provides floor plans, renderings and blueprints; our logistics team takes care of permitting, subcontractors, and all the orders; and our expert construction team keeps the project moving along on time. We even have our own millwork shop and in-house cabinet team to build and install cabinets and millwork on all our projects. Having a team like this makes the world of difference when it comes to construction – sometimes saving our clients months on their project. It saves a lot of gray hairs, too!
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Nelson Construction and Renovations, a family business founded in 2006, is a design-build company that specializes in high-end remodels, home additions, and custom homes. With our headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, we serve homeowners all over Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. We are an award-winning member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
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