12 Ways to Work Through a Home Remodel Delay

When you’re in the middle of a home remodel, delays can feel overwhelming. What was supposed to be a smooth process suddenly stretches into weeks or even months longer than you planned. Families often feel the frustration of living in a construction zone, rearranging routines, and wondering if their dream space will ever be finished.

At Custom Built, we understand how difficult remodeling delays can be because we’ve guided hundreds of families through the same challenges. With more than 15 years of experience, we know what causes delays, how to plan for them, and, most importantly, how to help homeowners work through them without losing peace of mind.

In this article, we’ll share 12 proven ways to navigate remodel delays, from improving communication with your contractor to setting realistic expectations and creating temporary solutions. By the end, you’ll have practical strategies you can use to keep your remodel on track and keep your family comfortable until the project is complete:

1. Communicate Openly with Your Contractor
2. Understand the Cause of the Delay
3. Revisit Your Timeline Expectations
4. Prioritize Must-Have Features First
5. Explore Temporary Living Solutions
6. Review Your Contingency Fund
7. Take Advantage of the Extra Time
8. Ask About Substitutions for Materials
9. Stay Organized with Documentation
10. Focus on What You Can Control
11. Use the Time to Plan Future Projects
12. Stay Patient and Keep Perspective

1. Communicate Openly with Your Contractor

Clear communication is the best tool to reduce frustration during delays. A great contractor often has many projects in motion, which means they’re juggling countless moving parts behind the scenes.

The mark of a skilled contractor is handling those coordination details without overwhelming you, only bringing forward the things you truly need to know. In fact, this “quiet efficiency” is a sign of good service: they’re acting as a block for problems that could otherwise land on your plate.

That said, everyone's communication style is different. If you’d like to be updated more frequently or want to be looped in on challenges as they come up, don’t hesitate to ask. Clear expectations upfront can help you feel confident and informed throughout the process.

Ways to Achieve Open Communication:

• Ask for weekly or bi-weekly progress updates.
• Request clear explanations about why delays are happening.
• Use email or a shared project portal for written records.
• Keep a running list of questions for meetings.

2. Understand the Cause of the Delay

Knowing whether the delay is due to materials, inspections, or unexpected discoveries helps you decide how to move forward.

Ways to Figure Out and Tackle the Cause of the Delay:

• Ask if the delay is contractor-related or outside their control.
• Request estimated timelines for resolution.
• Find out if alternative materials or methods can be used.
• Document all updates in case timelines shift again.

3. Revisit Your Timeline Expectations

Delays don’t always mean the project is failing. More often, they’re a natural part of the remodeling process. Unforeseen existing conditions, like hidden water damage, outdated wiring, or structural issues, may need attention before work can continue. Change orders are another common cause, since even small adjustments to the plan can extend the schedule.

Material issues also play a big role. Specialty items such as custom cabinetry, countertops, or unique fixtures may arrive damaged or get delayed in shipping. Since COVID, supply chain irregularities have made this more common, and reordering can sometimes add weeks.

These situations don’t mean the project is off track; they’re simply part of building something safe, lasting, and high quality. Stay flexible, and talk with your contractor if you’d like more updates on how challenges are being managed.

Ways to Revisit Timelines:

• Break your project into phases so you can track progress.
• Ask your contractor for revised completion estimates.
• Focus on milestone dates instead of the final completion only.
• Keep a “flex buffer” of 2-3 weeks in your mental timeline.

4. Prioritize Must-Have Features First

If delays mean tough choices, make sure your contractor knows which features are non-negotiable. One of the best ways to minimize difficult decisions during construction is to have a fully solidified design before production even begins.

At Custom Built, we work through every detail, such as layouts, finishes, fixtures, and materials, so you know exactly what to expect and can feel confident moving forward.

Without a finalized design, projects can drift. You may face last-minute choices about layouts, substitutions, or finishes, which often lead to added costs, change orders, and extended timelines. Even a small change, like swapping a cabinet style or moving plumbing, can ripple into major scheduling delays.

By committing to a clear design upfront, you reduce uncertainty, protect your budget, and keep the project moving smoothly, even when inevitable challenges come up.

Ways to Prioritize Must-Haves:

• Create a list of “must-have” vs. “nice-to-have” features.
• Reallocate your investment toward priority features.
• Delay cosmetic or non-essential upgrades if needed.
• Communicate family needs clearly, like functioning bathrooms or kitchens.

5. Explore Temporary Living Solutions

If your home is unlivable due to construction, having backup housing options ready can make delays more manageable.

Ways to Explore Living Solutions:

• Stay with family or friends temporarily.
• Ask about short-term rentals near your home.
• Consider renting a storage pod to keep belongings safe.
• Research and book hotels or extended stays with positive reviews.
• Create a “mini kitchen” or “temporary bathroom” in another part of your home.

Lansing Area Hotel and Extended Stay Options (Not Including Airbnb or VRBO):

• Candlewood Suites
• Hyatt House Lansing / University Area
• WoodSpring Suites East Lansing - University Area

Boyne City Area Hotel and Extended Stay Options (Not Including Airbnb or VRBO):

• Water Street Inn
• Boyne City Motel
• Courtyard Petoskey at Victories Square

6. Review Your Contingency Fund

Delays often come with extra costs, such as storage fees or temporary housing. Having a financial cushion reduces stress.

Ways to Review Your Contingency Fund:

• Track expenses weekly so you don’t overspend.
• Ask your contractor if delay-related costs are covered.
• Keep 10-15% of your budget aside for unexpected costs.
• Plan for “hidden costs” like eating out or extra childcare.

7. Take Advantage of the Extra Time

Sometimes delays give you space to make better design decisions or explore additional options.

Ways to Take Advantage of Time:

• Use the delay to shop for furnishings and décor.
• Research energy-efficient or higher-quality alternatives.
• Ask for updated 3D renderings to visualize your space better.
• Revisit your design selections and confirm they’re right for you.

8. Ask About Substitutions for Materials

If unavailable materials cause delays, your contractor may be able to suggest alternatives. The same is true if a material arrives damaged, which unfortunately happens more often than you might think. For example, a cracked countertop, a chipped tub, or warped flooring may need to be re-ordered, and depending on the specialty or lead time, this can cause significant setbacks.

This is why solidifying your design before production is so valuable. When every material and finish has been selected and ordered in advance, your contractor has time to inspect deliveries and address any issues before they stall the build.

If something does go wrong, your contractor can either reorder quickly or recommend an alternative that still aligns with your design, avoiding rushed or reactionary decisions during the project.

Ways to Ask About Substitutions:

• Inquire about in-stock alternatives at local suppliers.
• Compare durability and warranty between options.
• Ask about “good, better, best” price points.
• Ensure substitutions won’t delay permits or inspections.

9. Stay Organized with Documentation

Delays can get messy without good documentation. Keeping everything in one place ensures clarity and prevents important details from being overlooked.

A contractor who uses an organized system, or better yet, offers an online client portal, makes it easier to track schedules, change orders, material updates, and communications in real time. This level of transparency not only helps you stay informed but also reduces confusion and stress when unexpected delays arise.

Ways to Stay Organized:

• Keep a dedicated remodel binder or digital folder.
• Save receipts, emails, permits, and contracts.
• Track timeline changes on a simple spreadsheet.
• Photograph progress weekly for reference.

10. Focus on What You Can Control

Delays can feel overwhelming, but focusing on controllable factors can help reduce anxiety. 

Instead of stressing over every schedule shift, think of it as the perfect excuse to plan a little getaway. A weekend trip, a few days up north, or even a “staycation” can make the time pass quickly, and you’ll return refreshed, ready to see the progress on your home.

Ways to Focus on Control:

• Maintain consistent communication with your contractor.
• Use downtime to prep your home (painting, decluttering).
• Keep your family’s routines as stable as possible.
• Decide in advance how you’ll handle small inconveniences.

11. Use the Time to Plan Future Projects

If your remodel stalls, it may be a good time to think ahead about upcoming improvements.

Use the pause to start planning décor details, such as which furniture pieces will best fit your new space, or which paint colors, rugs, or light fixtures will tie everything together.

Taking time to line up these finishing touches now can make move-in smoother and help your remodel feel complete the moment it’s done.

Ways to Plan Future Projects:

• Make a long-term list of home updates.
• Ask your contractor for bundled pricing on future projects.
• Prioritize upgrades that add long-term value.
• Explore design trends that might inspire new ideas.

12. Stay Patient and Keep Perspective

It’s frustrating, but patience helps you make smarter decisions instead of rushing. A remodel is temporary; your new home will be permanent.

Ways to Stay Patient:

• Remind yourself why you started the project.
• Celebrate small milestones with your family.
• Keep long-term goals front and center.
• Remember: the remodel is temporary, but the results last for years.

Next Steps to Remodeling Your Home

Delays are a common part of home remodeling, but they don’t have to derail your plans or create unnecessary stress.

By staying organized, maintaining open communication with your contractor, and using practical strategies like contingency planning and proactive scheduling, you can navigate setbacks effectively.

At Custom Built, we partner with homeowners to keep projects moving smoothly, addressing challenges before they become major issues.

Partnering with an experienced remodeling team like Custom Built can help minimize delays and keep your project on track. Schedule a consultation to discuss your timeline, plan for contingencies, and ensure your home remodel progresses smoothly from start to finish.

Now that you know more about ways to work through a home remodel delay, let’s take a look at whether a design-build firm like Custom Built is right for you, how we will approach your project, and other ways to vet your remodeling partner options:

• Top 4 Differences Between a Design-Build Firm and a General Contractor - A comparison between design-build firms and general contractors that highlights the pros and cons that each brings to the table.
• Dream, Design, and Build: Our Remodeling Process - This guide details how we at Custom Built will approach your remodeling project, including who you will work with and when to expect each crucial step of your renovation to occur.
• Top 8 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Remodeling Contractor - A list of essential questions to ask your prospective remodeling contractor before hiring them for your project; additional questions are included in each section.