In the near future, you intend to commence the renovation.
You own your house, or you have just closed your home, and you're about to start the renovation project design process. For you, this condition acts like a charm, since there is almost no downside-only upside! However, it is worth noting that during this public health crisis, homeowners who are not under pressure from a deadline may choose to (or be forced to) reassess their renovation.Advantage
Deals to be had could be there. Property prices can decrease, and if you close the property now, you may be able to get a better price. Similarly, for all subcontractors, the design-build team will be able to bargain across the board, which may bring down the cost of your renovation. In solidarity with the stock market downturn, several favored subcontractors shared that they would be flexible with pricing.
You are in the final design process and construction will soon start.
You spent months preparing the refurbishment. Armed with plans and permits, you're ready for construction to start.
Advantage
A project's early stages are easier to handle. Good news: your project has not yet begun, so your renovation is likely to be at a low-impact level. You are either about to start removing or reducing asbestos, or about to begin demolition.
The early stages of a project are simpler to coordinate, and when working from home, your project manager will have plenty of time to kick-start it again. This means you're not going to have to deal with your subs being halfway through your project. Since there is less risk, this is a positive thing.
Private businesses are agile. Government guidelines can vary from the guidelines of private businesses, and while both should take the CDC seriously, private firms are more agile. Therefore, you are likely to receive fewer inspections from the DOB if you are doing a brownstone renovation, since they would still have to start and stop, and that needs planning.
Disadvantage
You can run into problems with backorders. You have spent ages doing your specifications and selecting your FF&E (furniture, fixtures, & equipment), and now you have just learned that some of these are on backorder. Alternatives such as choosing similar scope products from national suppliers can be recommended by your team. This will mean more work for you eventually.
The reaction of preferred suppliers to this challenge has been mixed, as the ultimate effect of Covid-19 is still uncertain. Most manufacturers have not had any big delays so far, but some see slightly longer lead times on certain goods and occasional shortages on items that would usually be in stock.
In addition, it's really hard to say what the next few weeks will look like with the confusion surrounding potential extensions of the "pause" order. As such, to prevent any complications, vendors recommend placing all orders earlier rather than later.
