You have probably heard the words “unprecedented” and “unforeseen” many times over the past two years. The design and construction industry, along with so many others are faced with these unprecedented market conditions. We know you are aware of them, but transparency is important to us, and we wanted to take a moment to explain what we are currently facing.
There are a number of elements directly related to Covid-19 that are impacting the construction, remodeling and design industry.
Due to supply chain issues, there is a shortage of:
• Lumber & Hardwoods
• Finish Materials
• Hardware
• Electronic Parts
• Appliances
• Plumbing Fixtures
• Windows & Doors
• Steel beams
• Insulation
• Siding & Roofing
Although you may have heard material costs are stabilizing, we are still experiencing significant increases in areas such as labor & freight. Trucks, containers, & vessels have increased by four times the cost from a year ago. Labor is a battle for our warehouses, manufacturers, showrooms and other vendors which ultimately leads to increased lead times and price increases across the board. While price increases used to be implemented annually, we are now seeing them occur with little to no notice, at random. Permitting departments are backlogged in many counties. Covid-19 Safety protocols such as social distancing and quarantines (which are necessary) add even more stress to the labor shortages.
In addition to these challenges, more people than ever before are spending the majority of their daily lives in their homes. Instead of spending money on trips, new cars and other luxury items, they are turning to redesigning and remodeling their homes, especially while interest rates are low and property values are skyrocketing. This is causing major supply and demand which is further impacting pricing and lead times.
Line 6 of our contract states,
“I understand that accidents or delays may occur that are beyond the control of Justine Marie Designs, LLC (such as mistakes by the manufacturer). In the unlikely event that a delay beyond the control of Justine Marie Designs, LLC occurs, Justine Marie Designs, LLC will act in an expeditious manner to resolve the issue.”
While this is still the case, and we will always act in an expeditious manner to resolve your delay or mistake, they are currently more common than ever before. We are striving for your project to go as smoothly as possible during these challenging times, but ask for your patience when you experience project delays or see more warranty items come in than usual. We understand that it was difficult to get through a remodel even before these times and we will get through this together!
Thank you for your business & continued support.