Once you’ve committed to building a custom home, it may seem like smooth sailing. And as long as you’ve selected a reputable, experienced contractor, you’re unlikely to face any big issues. But even the best builders run into unexpected delays that can cause headaches and frustration.

Today we’re taking a look at some of the different factors that can affect whether your new home is finished on schedule, and how you can work with your contractor to avoid them.

1. Pre-Construction

This is usually the most labor-intensive period for the customer, because it’s the time when you’re not only planning out your new dream home but also securing a loan. So while you’re collecting documentation of every penny you’ve ever earned and spent, you’ll also be selecting your floor plan and materials, having pre-construction meetings, etc. You may also be dealing with readying your existing home for the market, which can add a layer of complexity to the whole process.

That said, a quality homebuilder will have a team of experts that can help walk you through every step of the process and make sure that you don’t hit any stumbling blocks early on. Pre-construction may be busy, but it doesn’t have to be scary.

2. The Weather

Climate and weather are the worst nightmare of every builder, because it simply cannot be controlled. Bad storms, exceedingly low or high temperatures, and more can all bring construction grinding to a halt. In this case, the best we can do is to remember that the clouds will part, the ground will dry, and work will start again soon!

3. Supply & Demand

During peak building season (typically the summer months), it can be a challenge for builders to find sufficient workers to complete all of their jobs on schedule. General laborers aren’t usually the problem – it’s the skilled trade masters, like electricians and plumbers – that can cause the scheduling hang-ups. Similarly, materials are in shorter supply when demand is higher, so it may take longer to get the right materials for your project (especially if changes are made part way through the process).

4. Size Matters

Simply put, larger homes take longer to build. But more generally speaking, more complex, labor-intensive projects are just going to take more time. This is one area where slow progress can be good – after all, you’ve carefully selected all the details of your new home, and you want them to be executed well! But as always, it’s important to stay in regular contact with your builder to ensure that delays are the result of attention to detail, and not poor scheduling.

5. Customer Changes

At the end of the day, the homeowner can be the biggest factor when it comes to scheduling delays. Last minute changes aren’t just as simple as making an exchange at the home improvement store – materials need to be returned and reordered, a different installation approach may be required, more laborers may be needed…

That’s why it’s important to review your plans thoroughly during pre-construction and finalize as many of the important items on your list as possible. Doing so will result in fewer annoying (and costly) delays in the construction process.