BUILDER'S TIMELINE KEEPS SHIFTING—NORMAL OR RED FLAG?
Honestly, even with all the meetings and calendars, I’ve still had timelines slip. Sometimes it’s not the crew or the plans—it’s stuff like weather, late deliveries, or just one sub not showing up. In my experience, no amount of check-ins can fix a supplier suddenly running out of a key material. I get wanting to keep everyone on track, but sometimes it’s just the nature of construction... Not always a red flag, but if it keeps happening for no clear reason, I’d start digging deeper.
- Delays happen. Weather, missing materials, or subs not showing up—those are legit.
- But if the timeline keeps shifting for reasons that don’t add up, that’s when my radar goes off.
- I’ve had projects where a builder blamed “rain,” but the site was bone dry for weeks... That’s a sign to start asking more questions.
- Look for patterns—are the delays always vague? Are explanations getting thinner each time?
- Some flexibility is normal in construction, but you should see some accountability and creative problem-solving from your builder, not just excuses.
- If communication gets spotty or you’re constantly chasing updates, that’s another flag.
- I’d suggest documenting each delay—track what they say vs. what actually happens. Sometimes just bringing this up gets things back on track.
- At the end of the day, construction is messy, but transparency and trust go a long way. If those start slipping, it’s time to push back a bit.
