When it comes to rehabbing and building homes, most of the focus tends to be on scheduling labor and getting crews on-site. While that’s undeniably important, what often gets overlooked is the process for ordering material—and this is where most delays and frustrations happen. The reality is, material delays are far more common than labor issues and cause unnecessary stress to your projects.

Without a good process in place for ordering materials, you’re likely to experience:

• Material not being on-site when needed, leading to costly turnarounds.
• Rushing to get materials at the last minute, resulting in lost time and extra trips.
• Mistakes in takeoffs and re-ordering, which only adds confusion.
• Avoidable headaches and stress due to disorganization.

To help you avoid these common pitfalls, we’ve outlined our top tips for a smooth material ordering process:

Our Top Tips for Ordering Material:

1. Perform takeoffs at least two weeks ahead of time
   Stay ahead by measuring and planning for materials early. This keeps projects on schedule and ensures that materials are always on-site when you need them. Many times delays in material orders come from simply not having the material list, and planning ahead can solve this issue.
2. Always order for delivery
   The bane of any construction company is running material. Pickups and emergency material trips waste time and cause significant stress. Ordering for delivery ensures you stay focused on managing your project. Make this a habit.
3. Use local suppliers and build relationships
   Having solid relationships with local suppliers can make all the difference when it comes to getting your materials on time—and in full. Sometimes this means switching suppliers, or even spending more money to work with someone that you can work effectively with.
4. Track deliveries consistently
   Know what’s coming and when. Keeping tabs on deliveries ensures that nothing slips through the cracks and your site remains stocked. We recommend checking in every other day, and always the day before expected delivery.
5. Triple check your list
   Mistakes happen, but they can be minimized by double- and triple-checking your material orders before submission. There are many times where I could have checked my list one more time and save myself a lot of time and headache.
6. Be on-site for deliveries
   Whenever possible, be present when materials are delivered to check for both quality and quantity. Spotting issues early can prevent delays down the road. This is easy to skip, but can often put you behind schedule by discovering issues too late.

A strong material ordering process is a must-have for any rehabber or builder looking to avoid delays, reduce stress, and keep projects on track. While labor scheduling is important, your materials are the foundation of a smooth, successful project. Taking the time to plan and streamline your ordering process will pay off with fewer headaches and a more efficient business.