Why do great builders still lose money on perfectly good jobs?
Because 98% of projects run late. And someone’s paying for the downtime. Is it you?
Here's the breakdown.
Mike remodels homes. Five million a year worth. He's got twenty years in the game and a reputation for quality work. But mention a written project schedule, and his face clouds over like a summer storm.
"Things always change," he says, waving off my suggestions. “It ain’t worth my time.”
But sitting with him, I see another change order unsigned on his desk, next to a stack of invoices and a scratch pad full of missed calls from anxious homeowners.
Hey, I get it.
Remodels are unpredictable at best. But there’s a reason you’re bleeding cash.
The Pattern
Last Tuesday, the plumber showed up, then left in a huff because the demo crew was still working.
Good luck getting them back anytime soon.
Wednesday: The tile guy walks because the floor's not prepped. He’s three weeks out as it is.
You think he’s breaking a sweat over your job?
Thursday: The homeowner is breathing fire about the delays, talking to friends. One of them’s an attorney.
Friday: Mike's writing checks to keep crews on standby.
Next week. Next month. Next job = Same story.
The Cost of Chaos
Idle labor burning payroll
Extended equipment rentals
Rushed material deliveries at premium prices
Lost referrals and dings to your reputation
Five grand here. Ten there. Mike calls it "the cost of doing business."
I call it preventable losses.
Industry data shows even basic scheduling can prevent up to 30% of these delays.
“You can't schedule around rotted joists or late deliveries,” he tells me. “Each job's different. No two the same.”
But the failures are identical. Every time.
It's not the surprises that kill you. It's working blind.
Breaking Point
I found Mike slumped over his desk one afternoon, his spreadsheet open. Phone blowing up.
“Where we at?” I asked him.
“I got three projects behind schedule. A couple small jobs starting next Monday, and a sub threatening to bail.”
"Yeesh."
“Tell me about it.”
We didn’t touch any software at first. Just sketched it out.
The trades
Starts - Are we locked in?
Who follows who - when
Which materials need to land first - where
How long each task actually takes… No really. How long?
Basic blocking and tackling. But now Mike could see the job.
That’s when we pulled out the tools. Nothing fancy. Just simple stuff that gets the job done.
Construction Tech for the Non-Technical
Here are five free (or nearly free) options that even the most tech-resistant contractor can handle:
ClickUp – Free plan covers task lists, checklists, and basic timelines.
Monday.com - Free, fast, and flexible. Easy to use, too.
Toggl Plan – Clean interface. Easy for small teams.
Google Sheets Gantt Template – Already on your desktop. No logins. Just plug and go.
Buildertrend Free Trial – If you're ready to try construction-specific software, it's a solid first step.
None of these will solve your problems. But they’ll show you where the holes are before you fall into them.
Share it on mobile.
Print the plan.
Tape it up.
Update once a week.
Let your team see what’s coming.
It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to exist.
The Shift
Next morning, Mike's on the phone. Calling subs. Setting dates. Making promises he can actually keep.
By lunch, he's showing a homeowner exactly why moving that wall adds eight days, not two. Client gets it. Signs the change order. No drama.
End of week, plumber shows up to a clean site. Tile guy's got his surface. Inspector passes rough-in first try.
Mike's not writing standby checks anymore.
The Truth
Some guys will tell you a written schedule is worthless on smaller construction jobs. They're right, if you're talking about the fancy software kind that no one looks at.
But a basic breakdown? That's just anatomy. Knowing where the bones go before you cut.
Mike still hits snags. Still finds rot behind walls. Still deals with late deliveries.
But now he sees them coming. Plans for them. Profits from them.
Fifty grand. That's what his resistance to scheduling cost him last year.
What's it costing you?
📚 Sources
Trangistics (2025) – From Minutes to Millions: The Financial Impact of Construction Delays - 98% of North American construction projects face delays, averaging 37% longer durations.
SpeedChain (2025) – The Hidden Financial Toll of Construction Project Delays in 2025 - Details how labor inefficiencies and rework drive increased costs for developers and GCs.
Greystone (2024) – NMHC: 97% of Property Developers Report Construction Delays - Highlights widespread construction delays, especially in multifamily and commercial sectors.
Construction Dive (2022) – Construction Lost as Much as $40B on Poor Productivity in 2022 - Covers how lean planning failures and idle labor inflated costs across the U.S. construction sector.
.
🧰 Need a little help?
I thought you’d never ask:
1. Quick Fix Focus Call – $125
Let’s get it done. One-hour consult to troubleshoot tech, workflow, permits, or crew issues. Clear answers. All action. 🚀2. System Tune-Up – Starting at $950
Audit and optimize your tools (e.g., Buildertrend, JobTread, Procore, G-Suite, etc.). Includes SOP review, automation tweaks, and hands-on improvements to streamline your operation. ⚙️3. Full Ops Overhaul – Custom Pricing
Full back-office transformation. I handle tech setup, SOP creation, subcontractor systems, permit coordination, and team training—so you can scale without chaos.