If you are thinking about a remodel for your Maryland or Washington, DC, home, you may have wondered when the best time to start might be. Conversely, maybe you haven’t thought too much about it at all – but knowing how it works from the contractor’s end of things can help you plan better for what comes next.
When it comes to building new homes and renovation jobs, most of us think of the summer months. The warmer season is the best time for doing things outside, but there is plenty more to consider. Choosing the right time of the year to remodel could save you a lot of money and help you get your remodeling project done faster.
Sometimes, it’s easy to understand why it’s not a good time to start a project. For example, you won’t be building a pool in the dead of winter. However, no matter what part of the country you live in, the right time to remodel is not always about the weather.
Supply And Demand: How It Impacts Your Remodeling Plans
In terms of how much you pay for certain things, supply and demand is a significant factor. It’s pretty much the same for anything you might need to buy. When there is lots of something, it’s less expensive. When there is high demand, it tends to cost more. It’s the same for paint and lumber as it is for Christmas decorations.
That said, the best time to remodel isn’t always when the materials you need are on the bargain table. You also don’t want to be ordering flooring, for example, at the same time every contractor in town is putting in their orders, either. If you do, you risk your order getting lost in the shuffle, misplaced, or delayed.
Planning your remodeling job well in advance, however, will allow you to purchase materials when the prices are good. Then, you can put them away until you are ready to begin the work. By doing things this way, you’ll save yourself a lot of aggravation – and money.
Don’t Plan Your Remodel During A Contractor’s Busy Season
Crunch times for the contractor are not the best time to schedule a remodel.
Think of it like going to a restaurant. Everybody wants to eat at 7:00. If you show up at the best restaurant in town at 7 pm, even if you do get a table, it’s unlikely you will get great service because they are so overwhelmed. Your server might forget your drink order or bring you someone else’s order.
Contractors aren’t much different, in a way. They have seasons during which they have to turn away work and other times of the year when they have nothing going on at all. If you hire a contractor during their busy time and expect them to complete your job on time and without any mistakes or delays, you’re not likely to get the outcome you want.
If you plan well enough in advance, you can schedule the work to start before your contractor is overwhelmed with other commitments. The job will be finished earlier, and the work will be done more efficiently if they aren’t juggling a bunch of similar projects. So, planning your remodel slightly off-season is an excellent idea.
What Are The Best Seasons For Remodeling?
The optimum time for your remodel is going to depend, largely, on the type of work you are doing. If you can plan it a couple of months before the rest of the city is going to be clamoring for the same services, you’ll come out ahead.
For instance, if you’re building a deck, a sunroom, or anything to do with the great outdoors, don’t wait until summer to get started. Planning is often the most time-consuming part of the job, so it pays to get that out of the way well in advance.
If it’s a major remodel, there will be a lot of selections to be made, permits to obtain, and things to consider in terms of your living situation. Start planning in the winter when demand is low, so when the springtime comes, you’ll be ready to go.
The bottom line is, if your project is planned well in advance, the whole operation will go much more smoothly. Once you have your new rooms designed, your selections made, and all the details worked out – that’s the best time to remodel.
Are you ready to start planning your next remodel? We would love to help. Reach out today, and let’s get started.
