📨 Contractor’s Digest – Daily Rundown
📅 Friday, April 11, 2025
🛠 Helping Contractors Win More Jobs, Increase Profits & Avoid Costly Mistakes
🚧 Today’s Rundown
🔹 Feature Story: The 3 Most Common Scheduling Mistakes Contractors Make (and How to Fix Them)
🔹 Business Tip: Don’t Just Block Time—Build in Buffer
🔹 Business Tip: New Home Construction Jumped in February—But Watch the Tariffs
🔹 Tool Spotlight: Best Scheduling Software for Small to Mid-Sized Contractors
🏗️ Feature Story: The 3 Most Common Scheduling Mistakes Contractors Make (and How to Fix Them)
📉 What’s the Problem?
Ask most contractors why their jobs fall behind schedule, and you'll hear things like:
“Rain set us back,” “Subs didn’t show,” or “Materials were delayed.”
But the truth? Most scheduling problems start with how the schedule is built.
Let’s break down the top three mistakes—and how to fix them so you stop bleeding time and profit.
⛔ Mistake #1: Overpromising the Timeline
You’re eager to win the job, so you say what the client wants to hear.
But a 6-week project turns into 9, and now they’re mad—even though you’re still delivering great work.
✅ Fix It:
📌 Be realistic—not optimistic.
📌 Add buffer time for weather, change orders, and delays.
📌 Say, “This is the best-case scenario. We’ll aim for it, but here’s the realistic timeline.”
⛔ Mistake #2: Ignoring Lead Times
Materials aren't always available next-day anymore. That special tile, those custom cabinets, or even windows?
They can take 4–8 weeks—or more.
✅ Fix It:
📌 Confirm availability before locking in start dates.
📌 Build material lead times into your production calendar.
📌 Order early and track deliveries inside your schedule.
⛔ Mistake #3: No Real Contingency Plan
One missed inspection or delayed sub—and everything falls apart.
If there’s no plan B (or C), you’re stuck scrambling.
✅ Fix It:
📌 Always have contingency crews on call
📌 Pre-schedule inspections with flexibility
📌 Use software with drag-and-drop scheduling to adjust in real time
🚀 Pro Tip:
Your schedule isn’t just a timeline—it’s a trust-building tool.
Clients don’t just want fast. They want consistent, clear, and predictable.
Set realistic expectations, then meet or beat them. That’s how you win repeat business.
📩 Want our “Contractor Scheduling Template” with built-in buffers and lead time prompts?
Reply and we’ll send it your way.
📌 Business Tip: Don’t Just Block Time—Build in Buffer
The difference between a 2-week delay and a smooth recovery?
Buffer time.
Always build a cushion between trades, inspections, and delivery deadlines.
Here’s why:
✔️ Unexpected rain? Covered.
✔️ Sub runs late? You’re not thrown off.
✔️ Change order midstream? You’ve got space to pivot.
✅ Pro Tip: Add 10–15% time buffer to every major task.
That’s not padding—it’s planning.
📌 Business Tip: New Home Construction Jumped in February—But Watch the Tariffs
February brought a surprising 11.2% increase in new home construction starts, bouncing back from a weak January. But don’t celebrate just yet—overall activity is still down from last year, and new threats are looming.
The big concern? Proposed import tariffs on materials like steel and aluminum could add an estimated $9,200 to the cost of an average new home. Builders are already feeling the pressure—permit numbers dropped slightly, and industry confidence just hit a 7-month low.
🔍 What It Means for Contractors:
• Lead times and pricing may spike if tariffs move forward
• Budget bids with room for material cost swings
• Stay transparent with clients—especially on material-driven delays or price increases
🚀 Pro Tip:
Now’s the time to tighten estimating systems and pre-order materials when possible. Supply chain surprises are back on the menu.
📩 Want our “Tariff Impact Estimating Worksheet”? Reply and we’ll send you a free copy.
⚙️ Tool Spotlight: Best Scheduling Software for Small to Mid-Sized Contractors
📱 Our Top Picks:
🔹 JobTread – Visual Gantt charts + real-time updates
🔹 Buildertrend – Syncs scheduling with subs and clients
🔹 CoConstruct – Great for residential builders with change order syncing
📦 Want our full “Scheduling Software Cheat Sheet”?
Reply and we’ll send it over.
😂 Contractor Humor:
Why did the drywall guy break up with his girlfriend?
Because he needed more space between the studs.
📣 Call to Action
🔥 Like this newsletter? Forward it to a contractor who needs it.
📬 Not subscribed yet? Sign up now + grab your free eBook:
👷♂️ Stay sharp, schedule smart, build better.
— Benjamin Patton