The residential construction industry is making a slow and steady comeback, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its challenges.
The Problem: In today’s volatile market, sourcing materials is a Herculean task. Fluctuating prices, long lead times, and sudden shortages of essential items like lumber, steel, and even concrete can derail projects instantly.
1. Difficulty obtaining permits and approvals:
The permitting process for new construction can be complex and time-consuming, often involving multiple government agencies and lengthy delays. These delays can disrupt construction schedules, push back completion dates, and ultimately cost builders money.
2. Tight deadlines:
As builders push for faster build times, trade contractors must work within tighter construction windows. Missing a deadline has a domino effect – throwing off the cadence of subsequent trades and ultimately delaying the entire project. Seamless communication and scheduling integration with builders is critical to avoiding conflicts and rework.
3. Mobile workforce apps:
With proliferating mobile apps, field teams for both builders and trades can remotely log updates, submit reports, share photos and videos, and stay connected, with progress data flowing continuously between the office and job sites. Issues can be escalated immediately before they become major headaches.
4. Pursue public-private partnerships (PPPs)
To provide financial incentives for affordable housing projects, PPPs can offer financial incentives like tax credits, low-interest loans, or grants, typically directed at developers committed to building affordable housing. These incentives can help reduce financial risk, making such projects more feasible.
Conclusion:
Understanding these challenges can help you appreciate the complexities of the construction process and foster better communication with your builder. By acknowledging these issues, we can work together to find solutions and ensure that your building project, whether a new home or a commercial space, succeeds. While the challenges are great, the reward of seeing a project completed is what drives most builders. It is a very difficult but rewarding career.
