Planning Your Project
Project feasibility: Time Frame: Labor availability
During "boom" times, contractors can have a 1 1/2 year backlog of work and may not even return your phone call, during "lean" times they may be ready to start tomorrow. The availability and reliability of subcontractors is also adversely affected by a surplus of work, so even if you find a contractor, your project will be delayed somewhat by overbooked subs. The same holds true with regards to the time of year you start your project; spring is the busiest, then summer, fall, and winter. An ideal time to start is between Thanksgiving and New Years, it allows enough time to get a foundation in the ground before the ground freezes, and the contractor's phone stops ringing because of the holidays.
Project feasibility: Time Frame: Project scope & complexity
As expected, the bigger and more complex the project, the longer the time to complete. It's worth noting that it can be difficult to interest contractors in a small, complicated project (during busy times), because the high-level personnel they must assign to these jobs could be making more money for them on a bigger, less complicated job.
Project feasibility: Time Frame: Permitting
During busy times, the building department's backlog can be as long as one month. Keep in mind that before obtaining a building permit, you may be required to have a certified plot plan, and to comply with various other regulations including: zoning, conservation, historical, restrictive covenants, and others.
Project feasibility: Time Frame: Client availability
Your ability to meet with the architect in the design phase and the architect and contractor during construction will expedite the project. It's important to set aside a chunk of time each week, not just bits and pieces of leftover time in your schedule. Also, although it's tempting to take a long vacation during construction, the project may be delayed if key decisions cannot be made in your absence.
Keep in mind that there is wide variation in how long different architects and contractors take to complete their work. Your completion date will be determined both by the commencement date and the project duration. Sometimes it's quicker to delay the start date to wait for a contractor or architect who can produce the work more quickly.
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