Why You Shouldn’t Trust Generic Contractor Timelines

When a contractor tells you a job will take “two weeks,” don’t press pause on everything else yet. That optimistic deadline often stretches into two months. It’s rarely the crew’s fault, it’s weak planning. No one aligned materials, teams, or real-world variables. At DOCI, we don’t offer estimates, we build timelines backed by systems. That’s how we consistently hit deadlines. Here’s the blueprint behind our process, and why trusting vague timelines hurts your bottom line.

⏳ The Real Cause of Renovation Delays

Delays in renovations almost never stem from skill issues. Instead, common culprits are:

• Late material arrival due to unknown lead times
  
  
• Overlapping crews without clear sequencing
  
  
• No buffer days to absorb delays
  
  
• Unplanned inspections or supply issues
  Result? Delayed starts, idle days, and stressed budgets.
  
  

What Generic Timelines Overlook

1. Supplier variability: Materials aren’t always in stock
   
   
2. Trade coordination: Electricians before demo slows other teams
   
   
3. Hand-off planning: Drilling before paint isn’t feasible
   
   
4. Quality checks: You need time to confirm that materials match specifications
   
   
5. Real-world issues: Every old unit surprises someone, fixtures may hide damage or need replacement
   
   

DOCI’s System-Based Scheduling Approach

To avoid delays, we layer in process and precision:

• Lock scope before scheduling: Finish choices are finalized before booking anyone
  
  
• Confirm deliveries before demo: No surprises when materials aren’t in stock
  
  
• Coordinate trades in kickoff: Everyone knows their schedule and responsibilities
  
  
• Add buffer days between each phase
  
  
• Run daily check-ins to catch issues before they stall progress
  
  

Blueprint vs. Guess – How It Actually Works

• Scope doc: Full, room-by-room breakdown including products, brands, and quantities
  
  
• Shared timeline: Calendar showing demo, install, inspections, finishes
  
  
• Weekly planning calls: Team alignment and risk mitigation
  
  
• Real-time tracking: Alerts for delays, popped issues, revisions
  
  

This is planning, not hope.

Case Study: Two-Week Promise Gone Wrong

The Problem

A contractor promised a bathroom refresh in 14 days. Work dragged for 40, with repeated delays from missing fixtures, misaligned crews, and unplanned repairs.

• No material ordering pre-demo
  
  
• No electrical, plumbing, and painting sync
  
  
• No buffer days to react to issues
  
  

The DOCI Difference

Same scope, same materials, but executed with:

• Scope fully finalized pre-vacancy
  
  
• Fixtures and finishes ordered before demo
  
  
• Trades scheduled with clear hand-offs
  
  
• Safe buffer time in schedule
  
  
• Daily progress check-ins
  
  

Result: Project finished in 14 days on budget, with zero surprises. Tenant moved in on schedule, rent rolled as planned.

How to Evaluate Contractor Timelines

1. Ask for material lead times – Do they know when items arrive?
   
   
2. Request sequencing plans – Which trades come first? Who waits?
   
   
3. Confirm buffer days – Expectation of real-world variability?
   
   
4. Check communication standards – Will you get daily or weekly updates?
   
   
5. Review examples – Ask for real projects delivered on time
   
   

If you get vague timelines with no specifics or accountability, they’re turning guesses into deadlines.

Best Practices to Protect Your Renovation Timeline

• Freeze scope early: Fix materials, finishes, and specs before scheduling
  
  
• Order materials before vacancy: Shipping delays shouldn’t stall work
  
  
• Schedule trades based on dependencies: Build a logical sequence
  
  
• Add buffers: Even a few extra days per phase prevents cascading delays
  
  
• Assign a project coordinator: Someone who manages communication and logistics daily
  
  

The Cost of Trusting Hazy Timelines

Tolerating an extra week may seem harmless. But multiply it across vacancies, tenant turnovers, and holding costs, and the impact is huge:

• Lost rent from extended vacancy
  
  
• Additional holding costs (utilities, fees, cleaning)
  
  
• Stress and reputation damage
  
  
• Reduced ROI on renovations
  
  

‍

If you’re tired of “two-week” jobs turning into months, it’s time to demand detail, not deadlines. At DOCI, every timeline is backed by a blueprint: scope locked, materials lined up, crews coordinated, and buffers in place. Projects finish on time because we plan how to do it, not just say it.

👉 Talk to DOCI to build renovation timelines you can trust.