When Your Dream Home Hits a Snag: Navigating Orange County’s New Construction Delays with Smart Storage Solutions
Building a new home in Orange County, Florida should be an exciting milestone, but new construction delays and materials shortages can make for logistical nightmares and create incredible frustration if you’re stuck in temporary lodging and ready to move, but the home you’re building can’t be finished within the expected timeline. With Orange County implementing temporary pauses on development applications and typical application timelines varying from three to six months, with some applications taking longer, these applications could run beyond the September 2024 adoption of Vision 2050 and Orange Code, homeowners need strategic solutions to manage their belongings during extended construction timelines.
Understanding Orange County’s Construction Landscape
The construction industry in Central Florida faces unique challenges that directly impact homebuilders and buyers. The residual impacts of the 2020-2023 inflationary period persist, posing financial challenges for development deals amid high-interest rates, while subcontractors across the region are still relatively busy with ongoing projects, so construction pricing has yet to decrease, with developers cautiously approaching 2024 with some adopting a “Survive Until ’25” mindset.
The Home Builders and Contractors Association of Florida’s Space Coast reports that the combined labor and construction material shortage significantly prolongs construction timelines, with homes that used to take 12 months to build now requiring 15 months or more. This reality means that even the most well-planned construction projects can face unexpected delays.
Common Causes of Construction Delays
Several factors contribute to extended construction timelines in Orange County. There are several possible contributing factors to delayed new home construction, with some of the most common including difficult weather, a shortage of supplies, and unanticipated design changes. Unpredictable weather—especially in places like Florida—can bring construction to a halt, with heavy rains, hurricanes, or extreme heat delaying site work, foundation pours, roofing, and more.
Frequent, unanticipated adjustments in home design are the largest reason home construction delays take place. Additionally, construction relies heavily on the availability of materials and equipment, with delays often arising when products are backordered, out of stock, or held up in transit—issues that have become more common in recent years with global supply chain disruptions affecting even standard building materials.
The Hidden Costs of Construction Delays
When your new home construction faces delays, the financial impact extends far beyond the building costs. The last hidden cost of building a home in Florida is housing and storage costs while construction is underway, with waiting to sell being a costly decision resulting in a mortgage payment in addition to out-of-pocket construction costs, while selling your home before beginning construction can be nearly as costly when you factor in where to live between selling and buying and having months (or even a year) of storage unit rent.
In the Tampa area, the average monthly price of a two-bedroom apartment currently sits at $1,968, with a single storage unit being an extra $100 a month, meaning Tampa residents who choose to sell before building are still effectively paying an additional mortgage throughout the construction process. These costs can quickly add up during extended delays, making strategic storage planning essential.
Professional Storage Solutions for Construction Delays
When facing construction delays, partnering with professional moving and storage companies can provide crucial relief. Moving and Storage Orange County, FL specialists understand the unique challenges homeowners face during construction delays and offer comprehensive solutions to bridge the gap.
Family-owned, veteran-led teams offer professional movers with no hidden fees, handling everything from packing to reassembly for a seamless, stress-free experience. Family and veteran-owned companies serving the entire United States specialize in both local and long-distance moves, operating in Florida, Colorado, California, and Texas for local moves, while long-distance services cover the rest of the U.S.
Professional moving companies handle household moves for transferring families, coordinate temporary storage when housing timelines don’t align perfectly, and manage the logistics of getting families settled in new communities. This comprehensive approach ensures your belongings remain secure while construction timelines fluctuate.
Types of Storage Solutions
Several storage options can accommodate different needs during construction delays:
- Climate-Controlled Storage: Climate-controlled storage facilities handle overflow items that don’t immediately fit in your new space, protecting sensitive items from Florida’s humidity and temperature fluctuations.
- Portable Storage Containers: Portable storage offers month-to-month rentals of sturdy 12′ or 16′ mobile storage containers delivered straight to your home or business, allowing you to take your time loading them up before pickup and storage in secure warehouses or leaving them on your site.
- Full-Service Storage: Professional companies provide safe storage for your belongings and packing/unpacking services to help you save time on what is otherwise the most tedious part of moving.
Planning Ahead for Success
Planning ahead is the best way to avoid delays in any plan, not just construction, with knowing what you want in your move before building being a crucial step. When construction delays become inevitable, having a storage strategy in place can minimize stress and additional costs.
Construction delays and permit issues happen constantly in Florida real estate, making professional storage partnerships essential. Unlike moving brokers, direct moving carriers allow you to work directly with the company handling your move, cutting out the middleman, with professionally trained, background-checked, and randomly drug-tested movers.
Making the Right Choice
When selecting storage solutions during construction delays, consider companies that offer transparent pricing, flexible terms, and comprehensive services. Successful companies commit to transparency, providing upfront pricing, free estimates, and clear terms so customers know exactly what to expect, unlike competitors that impose hidden fees and last-minute charges.
Construction delays in Orange County don’t have to derail your homebuilding dreams. With proper planning and professional storage solutions, you can navigate extended timelines while keeping your belongings safe and your stress levels manageable. The key is partnering with experienced professionals who understand the unique challenges of Florida’s construction market and can provide flexible, reliable storage solutions tailored to your specific timeline and needs.