We regularly run projects that take six to seven months. The ones that go well and the ones that become painful rarely differ in the quality of the carpentry — they differ in how much was decided before demolition started. Almost every serious delay traces back to a decision that was still open when the schedule needed it closed.
Lock the decisions that have lead times
Some choices can wait; others cannot. Windows, custom doors, appliances, tile, plumbing fixtures and custom millwork all carry lead times measured in weeks or months, and several of them determine framing and rough-in dimensions.
Appliances are the classic example. A panel-ready refrigerator and a standard one need different cabinet openings and different electrical positions. Deciding late means either rebuilding cabinetry or accepting a compromise you will look at every day.
Sequence is the whole game
Trades have a fixed order: demolition, structural, rough mechanicals, insulation, drywall, then finishes. Compressing the schedule by starting a trade early almost always creates rework, because each stage depends on the one before being genuinely complete.
The most common self-inflicted delay is inspections. Rough framing, electrical, plumbing and insulation inspections all have to pass before covering up, and an inspection that fails on a Friday can cost the following week. Building inspection slack into the plan is realism, not pessimism.
Decide how you will live through it
For a six-month project, this deserves a real conversation up front. Staying in part of the house is possible and often sensible, but it requires proper dust barriers, protected pathways, a working bathroom and a plan for a temporary kitchen.
Being honest about your tolerance matters. Homeowners who stay in a house through heavy demolition and then move out mid-project in frustration usually end up paying for both — and disrupting a schedule that was working.
Budget a real contingency
On older homes, ten to fifteen percent is a realistic contingency. Opening walls in a house that has been altered over decades reveals things no one could price in advance — undersized framing, previous work done without permits, hidden water damage, outdated wiring.
A contingency is not padding. It is what lets you make the right decision when something is discovered, rather than the cheapest one that keeps the number intact.
Agree how changes get handled
Changes will happen on a long project. What matters is that they are priced and approved in writing before the work is done, so there are no surprises at the end.
Equally, agree on how you will be updated. A short weekly check-in covering what was completed, what is next and what decisions are needed from you prevents almost every communication problem we have ever seen on a long job.