Yeah, it’s wild how much the timelines have shifted. I remember when 12 months felt like plenty of time, but now it just seems risky to cut it that close. The interest adds up, sure, but honestly, the stress of last-minute scrambling is worse for me. I’d rather budget a bit extra for a longer loan than get stuck paying fees for extensions or, worse, having to refinance.
Those utility delays are brutal. We had a similar holdup with our electrical hookup last year—everything else was ready to go, but we couldn’t get final sign-off. It’s frustrating, but you’re right: having that buffer is just kind of necessary now. I keep hoping things will speed up again, but for now, planning for 16-18 months just feels safer. Hang in there—it’s not just you dealing with this stuff.
Yeah, I’m seeing the same thing—12 months just isn’t realistic anymore, especially with all the unpredictable utility timelines. We had a project last fall where the gas company pushed us back almost two months. It’s tough to swallow the extra interest, but that’s still better than getting hit with extension fees or having to scramble for bridge financing. Honestly, I’d rather build in that buffer and finish early than risk overruns. The old “finish in a year” timeline just doesn’t match reality right now.
The old “finish in a year” timeline just doesn’t match reality right now.
I keep wondering how everyone’s handling design decisions when these delays pop up. When utility work drags on, do you find it changes your approach to finishes or selections? Like, do you hold off ordering materials in case specs change, or do you lock everything in early and just hope for the best? I’ve had tile go out of stock mid-project more than once lately…feels like a gamble either way.
do you hold off ordering materials in case specs change, or do you lock everything in early and just hope for the best?
It’s a tough call. Lately, I’ve been leaning toward locking in selections early—especially for anything with long lead times or limited stock. But I’ll build in some flexibility on finishes that are more likely to change if delays drag out. Had a project last year where we lost our first-choice hardwood because of a six-month delay... ended up scrambling for an alternative that wasn’t quite what the client wanted. It’s definitely a balancing act between risk and keeping things moving.
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually tend to hold off on a lot of orders until we’re further along with specs. Been burned too many times by clients changing their minds halfway through, or architects tweaking things last minute. Sure, it means tighter timelines for some materials, but I’d rather deal with a rush order than sit on expensive stuff I can’t use. Maybe it’s just my luck, but the “lock it in early” approach has backfired more than once...
