Does the Construction Industry Slow Down During the Holidays?

As a new contractor, you’ll quickly find that your schedule doesn’t always match the one your friends and relatives might keep. That’s because things like weather, workload, and project deadlines can all affect your decision of how many hours to put in at work, not to mention how many days you’ll want to work every month.

This can be particularly true during the holiday season, when a lot of businesses and industries slow down very noticeably. But, will you be taking time off during the time around November and December?

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Lots of residential contractors see last-minute work around the holiday season. For a lot of homeowners, the holidays mean guests, including family coming into town from around the country, or even overseas. With that in mind, and with holiday bonuses on the horizon, many will seek to make last-minute renovations to their homes, such as new kitchen tiling or bathroom improvements. That means that, if you’re the kind of contractor who works on these specialty projects and can finish them quickly, you might be busier than ever in November and December.

Likewise, some business and corporate clients will want to finish up their project before the end of the year. For similar reasons, businesses might want to finish up work at an office or facility. For one thing, some companies close out their tax years on December 31, meaning that renovations and other improvements can be “written off” to offset profits. Additionally, the holidays can be a great time to do work in a building while employees are away and won’t be around to slow the pace of work.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to set your own schedule as a contractor. You may decide, as many contractors do, to work through the holidays frequently during the first years of your career, and then to emphasize time with your loved ones as you become more established. That’s one of the great things about having your own company – you can decide what’s important to you and make your own decisions each holiday season.

Because contracting is such a wide and diverse field, there really isn’t any one holiday schedule that would work for all types of construction professionals. The best thing to do is decide which priorities are important to you, and then make the most of the opportunities that come along while still spending some time with friends and family.

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