A little over half-way through this year, and I’m ready for next year. Feels like de’javu from this time last year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if supply chains and economic factors that have been so highly impacted by this last year will go into the history books, and be studied in universities for years to come.
But some college student’s homework a couple years from now won’t fix this year’s problems, and as we strive to build our active adult communities here in Utah, we are especially feeling the strain of the current conditions.
If its not back-ordered, It’s backlogged
It’s everything
It can’t have escaped your notice, that there is a shortage on just about everything. We still can’t reliably get appliances in, pvc pipe is as valuable as gold, and if you needed it yesterday, it’s at least three months on backorder.
Some things are starting to get a little better. Lumber for instance seems to be inching its way back to some semblance of normalcy. For a while, we struggled finding concrete and that is luckily becoming more available again.
Still, there isn’t one of our trades right now that isn’t somehow impacted by shortages. Whether it’s a shortage on swimming pool chemicals or safety products, or plastic boxes for electrical outlets, we are being delayed on all fronts of building.
We used to be able to order windows a month out, and know we’d get them in time. Now we have to order them three months out, and there is no guarantees that we’ll see them by then.
Backlogged
The other problem we face in the construction industry is subcontractors who are so busy that they can’t possibly take on all the work they have in front of them. They have too many jobs and not enough employees. And like with parts, if you want them sooner than later, be willing to pay the big bucks.
Over the last couple of months, even though we’ve been slowing down due to a lack of parts, we’ve had to source out other subcontractors just to keep our current ones caught up on the work we do have for them.
Leisure Villas
Without a doubt, this is a stressful year for everyone. Leisure Villas is doing its best to complete our jobs in a timely manner. We’re so grateful to all our customers who are and have been patient with us throughout all of this headache. We understand that our customers are just as frustrated with the whole situation as we are, but there is very little we can do about it, other than to keep moving forward.
Eventually, the market will stabilize, and we’ll all return to some degree of normal, we hope. We can’t make any accurate predictions as to how long this craziness will last, but I don’t see it extending much beyond this year. That could be little more than hopeful wishing on my part, but until then, thank you again to all our customers and potential customers for your patience. With any luck, we’ll be looking back to this year as a fond memory.