I work with many builders, many great builders in fact, and never have I seen so many feeling deflated and burnt out as right now. The last couple of years have put unimaginable strains on our construction industry, taking its toll. The Urban Developer recently published, ‘At least half of Australia’s building companies are trading insolvent, teetering on the brink of collapse and the construction industry’s troubles are about to get a whole lot worse’.
I can’t help but think that much of the stress builders are experiencing is caused by actual industry factors and much by devastating media predictions such as this.
For over two years now, building projects have been slammed by material shortages and price hikes. With fixed priced contracts, these factors have had the double blow of seriously chewing into builder’s margins while simultaneously pushing out timeframes. This double blow is a significant contributing factor to the number of big and small building companies now going under.
But despite all that, there are builders out there who are weathering the storm at a hit, both financially and mentally. They will survive, and these great men and women will be here to build our homes and buildings for years to come.
Good builders shoulder a big responsibility. They are responsible for building our homes while having open communication and trust with their clients. They are equally accountable for their team and supporting trades, many of whom are experiencing the same industry pressures while trying to support their families. It can be a lot.
While there is nothing you can do to change the current volatility of the building industry, there is something small you can do. If you have a builder in your world, reach out to them today. Let’s make today ‘Check on a Builder Mate Day’. It can be a simple text or a phone call, but knowing you have a support network of friends can make these hairy times a little more bearable.
Don’t get me wrong; I know homeowners are doing it tough too. When setting out on your new home or renovation journey way back when you would never have anticipated the impending sky-rocketing project costs. Anticipated budgets are being surpassed by hundreds of thousands, and homeowners are understandably disappointed.
But we need our great builders to hang on. There are too many beautiful homes and buildings to be created to lose them. Take care builders. Our professional landscape may look a little different moving forward, but we are in this together.
