Every fall brings the same request: can we have this done before the holidays? For remodelers, it's one of the most important moments to set expectations, because the answer shapes the entire client relationship that follows.
A holiday deadline has to account for more than construction days. Design decisions, permit review, cabinet and material lead times, inspections, and punch list work all add time, and many of those steps are outside the firm's direct control. Promising a date that depends on everything going perfectly puts pressure on the crew, trade partners, and the client, and it tends to end in frustration on all sides.
Firms that handle this well are clear early. They explain what is realistic, offer options like phasing the work so key spaces are usable by the holidays, or suggest starting the full project after the new year. Clients remember that honesty, and it often earns the referral even when the answer isn't what they hoped to hear. The chapter's article on remodeling for the holidays is a helpful resource to share with clients having this conversation.
For member firms: how do you handle a client whose holiday deadline just isn't realistic for the project they want? #Remodeling #NARI #ProjectManagement
A real member project photo of a finished kitchen or dining space set for entertaining, or a branded Canva graphic with a simple remodel timeline. Real photos outperform stock images. No Google Drive image folder is set up for this client, so request a real photo from the chapter or a member firm, or use a branded Canva graphic with chapter colors. Real photos outperform stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Honest Deadlines Build Trust" or "Set Holiday Expectations Early"