How Much Lead Time Do You Really Need to Plan a Renovation?

Today's episode is all about timing for your renovation project, and it's an important topic because everybody wants their dream home yesterday. Once we get the idea in our head, and the budget in our account, we don't want to be patient anymore. We want that gorgeous kitchen and cozy fireplace immediately.

And when we start visualizing ourselves in that future space, we begin to believe, in some weird way, that we already have it…and it's just a few technicalities in the way of achieving it, and why can't we just start already? How complicated can it be, right?

Of course, there are many factors to consider. Before we dive into the factors, here's a short excerpt from a previous masterclass I held and it's going to review the concept and application of lead time in a home renovation. This short video will help you frame your renovation according to this concept, and help you determine how much lead time you need before you'll be ready to start construction.

Lead Time

You might think: I'm not sure when I'll actually renovate. It could be a few years from now…so maybe I should wait”...

There is this principle in life and specifically in project management called Lead Time, and that is the latency, or delay from the day that you start a process, like ordering something, to the time that it's completed, like receiving that order.

Lead times in construction right now are typically really long, longer than they ever have been. Companies are still catching up from COVID shutdowns and the increased demand that surfaced during that time period.

For instance, the average window and door manufacturer needs between 4 and 8 months to deliver them from the time you order.

But what has to happen before those 8 months can start counting down? If you're installing a big window wall where there never was one before, then you're making structural changes, so you're going to need a permit.

In some locations, that permit could take a couple of weeks, or even closer to 6 months if you need special planning permission because it breaks a bylaw or you have a historical home or any such reason your jurisdiction gives you for slowing things down. CLICK So let's add another 6 months to our timeline for the permit.

And before you can apply for the permit, you need to complete all your initial planning work that is covered from start to finish inside Renovation Planning Academy…and even though a renovation plan can be done really quickly by someone who either has a lot of time or already works in the industry and already knows where to source things…

I like to recommend to students that you allocate 3 months of time for passive planning…since this is your dream home, and it's not something that you should want to or need to rush. Of course you get instant access to the entire course when you sign up, so you can dive in and complete the work as quickly as you want, but I like to suggest a 90 day turnaround for most people with busy lives and other commitments taking up their time. 90 days is very doable at a casual, no-pressure pace.

So looking at this plan, worked back like this, if you enrolled in Renovation Planning Academy today, and things went like a normal project …one that's not overly simple or full of delays, but very reasonable if you're doing major structural or other changes to your home…

then it could easily take 17 months from signing up for REnovation Planning Academy to when you would conceivably be starting construction. A year and a half! It's a bit shocking when you see it like this, yet this isn't unreasonable. So if you want a major reno, you really NEED to start planning early.

Of course it can be done faster, especially if you don't need a permit or you are ordering windows from somewhere with a shorter lead time, or any other tactics. There are SO many ways to shorten the overall duration of a project, and that is certainly something I can help you with once you get inside the program… so I don't want you to think that there's no way to go faster than 17 months… The point and takeaway here is that starting to plan “too early” or “too far ahead” is just not a thing. Having more time to plan and research suppliers is only going to help you so that if you do need a permit and you do want the fancy windows with an 8-month lead time, or you do want to order the fancy bathtub that comes all the way from Italy and takes a year on a boat…whatever it is, you'll have the time for it.

And guess what, the earlier you start planning and figuring out what you want to do and how much it will cost you, the more opportunity you have to save up for it. In fact, in order to make any decision in our lives, we need context and information. Can you tell me, right now, that you definitely know the budget for your dream home? And can you tell me right now that you definitely know when you could start construction? Of course not.

Until you get into the weeds of your project and start putting parameters around what you want and how you'll pull the details together, you really don't know anything. So starting to plan 3 years ahead of time, is not going to hurt you. It will just provide you with the context you need, nice and early, to make the best decisions all the way through the process.

Imagine knowing exactly how much your dream renovation will cost, how much you already have saved today, what your monthly savings could be, and therefore exactly how many months you need to save to have the exact dollar amount you need. That information is powerful. And there is no way for you to get this information other than planning your project yourself.

What Might Your Project Timing Look Like?

Ok so watching that may have given you a tummy ache, thinking, oh gosh, do I really need to wait 1-2 YEARS before my reno will be complete? That's so disappointing! OR you may have thought, “Whatever…that's not real…mine won't take that long…”

Or perhaps, you thought, “well, I don't need new windows, so hopefully I can take 8 months out of the lead time…and I'm not sure if I need a permit…I wonder what else might have a long lead time that I need to order in advance and plan for?”

And that final perspective is exactly the mindset I hope you have. The 17 months timeline I shared in that video was not there to scare or intimidate you, but just to make sure you're recognizing all the steps that need to be taken leading up to construction and to make sure you know that some products literally do take several months, and lots of things are backordered! I want you to know that planning early has no downside, and that you need to actually start planning your renovation so that you'll know the lead times of the products you want and make your final decisions with that in mind.

For instance, say the flooring you love has a 6-month backorder…well, when you plan your renovation well in advance, you can either get the order in now, knowing you won't start construction for 9 months, or you can make another choice if you want to move faster. Planning your project using the framework and process inside Renovation Planning Academy is the BEST way to give you that perspective and help you make those decisions.

The Factors That Affect Timing

The biggest factors that affect your timing for starting construction are:

First, material suppliers. If you need new windows like in my example, or particular flooring, or a wall cladding, or kitchen sink, or IKEA cabinets, whatever it is…. You need to know, very early on, if those materials are going to be available and in stock for purchase, or if they need to be ordered well in advance. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a homeowner choose a particular finish, like a bathtub, and then the contractor goes to buy it from the shop and it's no longer in stock, so they have to pick something else that's kinda similar but not the one they wanted, and they have no time to shop around elsewhere or pick something else so they just get some crappy second choice…and this coil have been avoided if that material was purchased in advance.

The second factor is the external parties over which you have zero control. What I mean here is your city or jurisdiction and how much time they need for permitting and approvals. I mentioned this in the lead time video because this is something real and you likely can't influence the timing on when they will approve your plans.

The third factor is your team of contractors and trades, and when they are available to start. Some of the best contractors might have a year's waitlist, so if you want that guy, then you may need to be prepared to wait. Or you can choose another option…at least this one is in your control.

The fourth factor is you and how much time you want to spend each day to contribute to the plan. Even just a few hours a week inside my program, Renovation Planning Academy, will result in you having a super detailed, well- designed, and complete plan for your project in under 3 months, so it doesn't have to be years in the making.

So, is it possible to start construction within 12 months? ABSOLUTELY! You control 3 out of the 4 factors, so you can manipulate those levers and make decisions as you need to.

The reality is, though, that it might mean that you have to make concessions on some of the things you really want. Maybe the amazing, self-cleaning 8-month lead time windows just won't be an option for you, if your biggest priority is speed in starting construction.

Or maybe the windows are so important that you're willing to wait an extra 3 months for them to be ready! You're in control of that decision, so it's really up to you.

At the end of the day, as I always say, your renovation results will come down to your unique set of priorities, circumstances, preferences, and budget. And nobody else can tell you what decision is right for you because they will never know the connections and importance of those personal factors. So only you can make the best decisions for you, your home, and your renovation.

Timing is just one factor to consider when planning out your renovation. The other two elements in the iron triangle are Scope, and Budget. When you consider all three together, then you're in total control of your project and you can get the renovation of your dreams, affordably, in a timeframe that works for you.

Let me know if you need help getting started with your renovation plans. You can always book a free 30-minute strategy session with me to discuss your project and I'll help you identify the first steps to take so that you can approach your reno with clarity and excitement.