Why Trade Shortages Could Delay Your Building Project and How to Avoid It

In today's building market, trade shortages aren't just minor inconveniences; they can cause significant delays and add unexpected costs to your building project. 

In fact, they’ve become one of the biggest bottlenecks in the construction industry and are caused by two factors: 

1. A booming housing market: The recent surge in housing demand has been a double-edged sword for the construction industry. While it means more work, it also stretches the availability of skilled tradespeople thin across numerous projects. This boom has led to intense competition for qualified workers, driving up wages and, by extension, the costs of construction. 
   
   
2. Fewer apprentices entering the trade: Another critical factor contributing to trade shortages is the dwindling number of apprentices entering the construction industry. This decline has been a growing concern over the years, leading to an aging workforce without enough young talent to fill the gaps. The lack of fresh apprentices means fewer hands available for work, which not only impacts current projects but also threatens the future sustainability of skilled labor in construction. 

This is why a builder with strong connections within the trade community is invaluable, as they’re able to pull in favours, secure scarce resources, and ensure your project isn’t left waiting when it comes to critical work. 

There are two keys to building good relationships with trades: 

Trades Relationship Builder Key #1: Strong Organisational Skills

Today’s top builders don’t fly by the seat of their pants. Instead, they rely on sophisticated construction management software to stay organised. 

This technology is a game-changer—it schedules tradespeople efficiently, ensures materials arrive on time, and keeps everyone from bricklayers to electricians in the loop. An organised builder is a proactive builder, preventing the chaos of mismanaged sites where costly delays are all too common.

Trades Relationship Builder Key #2: Timely Payments

Don’t underestimate the importance of timely payments in maintaining good relationships with trades. When tradespeople are paid promptly, it not only keeps morale high but also ensures their loyalty and prompt service. 

This practice of good financial management by a builder ensures trades are always willing to go the extra mile when needed.

A Builder / Tradie Relationship Breakdown Can be a Disaster for Construction Timelines

For instance, I've seen projects that should have taken a year stretch out to nearly two because of trade shortages exacerbated by poor management and strained relationships. These delays aren't just frustrating; they're costly, impacting budgets and extending mortgage payments on construction loans.

Our approach to maintaining excellent relationships with trades has reaped significant rewards. Tradespeople frequently tell us how much they appreciate working on our projects, highlighting our organisation and reliability for payments as the key reasons they prefer our jobs. This positive feedback not only makes our work environment more pleasant but also ensures that trades are eager to prioritise our projects over others.

We strategically partner with trades businesses that are as organised and professionally run as we are. These businesses have robust administrative structures, which means they manage their schedules effectively, handle their finances professionally, and maintain high standards of work. 

By aligning ourselves with trade partners like this, we ensure every aspect of the construction process is seamless, efficient, and up to the highest standards.

Bottom line: Choosing the right builder is about much more than just comparing quotes. It's about ensuring they have the capability to manage a complex network of tradespeople amidst ongoing shortages. 

It's also about selecting someone who values strong, professional relationships and operates with a high degree of organisational skill. If you're planning a construction project, don't settle for less—choose a builder who brings more than just construction knowledge to the table but also excels in project management and people skills.

This is just one of the factors to consider before designing a new home. There are many more, which is why I created this quick guide for you to download. 

Build with Confidence - 7 Things You Must Know Before Designing a New Home

It’s completely free, and it will help you avoid many of the traps that homeowners fall into.