'Strained construction': Reno homebuilders play ‘long’ and ‘safe’ game as supply chain, labor issues persist

by Kaleb Roedel

Troy Means, co-owner of Reno-based homebuilder HomeCrafters, recently received a letter from a concrete supplier, notifying him of a 25% increase in cost of precast products.

There was more. The supplier was also increasing labor and truck rental fees by 15%, equating to a price hike of $10 an hour.

Two years ago, Means and his brother and company co-owner, Travis, would have been wide-eyed over receiving such a notification. Now, more than 18 months into the coronavirus pandemic, they hardly bat an eye.

“We’re receiving ‘increase letters’ from material suppliers weekly,” Troy Means said in a phone interview with the NNBW. “Every year, we would receive some material price increase notices from certain suppliers, but not nearly to the extent and how often they’ve occurred during the pandemic … and how large the increases are.”

Since last spring, Means said HomeCrafters has seen building costs shoot up $70,000 to $85,000 per home compared to pre-pandemic. What’s more, the lingering crimps in the supply chain are adding “three to four months” to the company’s homebuilding timeline.

HomeCrafters was the developer of Pine Bluff, the newest neighborhood at Caughlin Ranch that wrapped construction last year. The community consists of 43 semi-custom homes that span 26 acres.

Read the entire article in the NNBW: https://www.nnbw.com/news/2021/nov/02/strained-construction-reno-homebuilders-play-long-/