Custom is awesome but man, “standard finishes save a ton of headaches” is the understatement of the year.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I went with mostly standard finishes and still hit snags—backorders, discontinued tile, you name it. Sometimes it feels like delays are just part of the process, custom or not. At least with custom you get exactly what you want (eventually).
Honestly, delays seem baked into the process these days, no matter how much you try to play it safe. Even the “off-the-shelf” stuff can get held up—last year I had a client pick a super basic subway tile and it still got backordered for weeks. At least with custom, when you finally get it, it’s exactly what you pictured.
Curious if anyone’s run into issues with their construction loan timing because of these kinds of delays? I’ve seen some lenders get pretty strict about extensions lately. Are most folks still seeing 12-month terms as standard, or is there more flexibility now with all the supply chain weirdness?
WHAT’S A “NORMAL” LENGTH FOR CONSTRUCTION LOANS THESE DAYS?
Yeah, the 12-month term is still what I see most often, but lately it feels like you need a crystal ball to predict if that’s enough. Had a project last fall where we were waiting on windows for almost three months—nothing fancy, just standard double-hungs. The lender gave us a 90-day extension, but it took some serious paperwork gymnastics. Some banks are more flexible if you’ve got a good track record, but others are really tightening up. It’s wild how even the “easy” stuff can throw off your whole timeline...
WHAT’S A “NORMAL” LENGTH FOR CONSTRUCTION LOANS THESE DAYS?
Twelve months is still the standard, but honestly, I rarely see a project wrap up that fast anymore. Between supply chain hiccups and permit delays, I always push for at least 15 months if I can. Extensions are a pain—way easier to build in a buffer upfront.
WHAT’S A “NORMAL” LENGTH FOR CONSTRUCTION LOANS THESE DAYS?
Twelve months sounds great on paper, but in practice? I can’t remember the last time a project actually finished in that window. Even the “simple” ones seem to get tripped up by something—waiting on a custom window order, or the city suddenly deciding they want a new round of drawings. I’ve started joking with clients that construction time is like dog years: whatever you think it’ll take, just multiply by 1.5 and you’re closer to reality.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with lenders being flexible upfront? I’ve seen some banks still push for 12 months, but then act surprised when we need an extension. Is it just me, or does it feel like the folks writing these loan terms haven’t set foot on a jobsite since 2019? I always try to pad the schedule, but sometimes even 15 months feels tight—especially if there’s any kind of historic review or environmental hoops.
Has anyone tried negotiating for an 18-month term right out of the gate? Or do lenders balk at that? I’d love to hear if there are tricks for getting more breathing room without paying through the nose for extensions. It’s wild how much time gets eaten up by stuff no one can control...and yet we’re still expected to hit those original deadlines.
Also, does anyone else feel like “supply chain issues” is just code for “your guess is as good as mine”?
