Why It’s Here, What’s Next, and How RenoVision Navigates It
Quick take: Florida’s Gulf Coast is booming. More buyers are moving in, more homes are being updated, and yet the skilled trade shortage is hitting Sarasota and Manatee harder than most markets.
The local reality in 2025
- Population growth outpaces labor. Sarasota and Manatee counties remain high on the list for retirees and relocating families. That means more home refreshes, remodels, and new construction than the local trade base can absorb.
- Backlogs are common. Painters, plumbers, electricians, and flooring crews are booked out 4–8 weeks or more. For homeowners and realtors trying to list a property quickly, that’s a serious hurdle.
- Aging trade workforce. Many of the region’s most experienced craftspeople are scaling back or retiring, with fewer young workers entering apprenticeships.
Why the shortage persists here
- Hot real estate market. Even with higher interest rates, Sarasota/Manatee continues to attract buyers paying cash or downsizing from northern states. Demand for ready-to-move-in homes is strong.
- Competition for crews. Contractors are pulled between commercial projects, new construction, and residential refreshes. That competition drives prices up and availability down.
- Training pipeline lag. Local technical schools are growing programs, but it takes years before graduates are fully licensed and ready to lead jobs.
Outlook for 2026 and beyond
- More of the same. As rates stabilize, demand for refreshes and remodels will accelerate. Sarasota and Manatee are not expected to see relief in available trades any time soon.
- Tighter schedules. Agents and homeowners aiming for fast listings will feel even more pressure in 2026.
- Long-term constraint. Unless trade programs expand dramatically, labor will stay tight through the end of the decade.
What does this mean for Sarasota & Manatee homeowners and realtors
- Delays eat equity. A home sitting on the market because trades are unavailable can cost more than the project itself.
- Planning is everything. Securing crews early, locking in materials, and keeping scope tight makes the difference between listing this quarter or next.
- Local focus matters. Out-of-town contractors often lack the relationships or bench strength to move quickly in this market.
RenoVision’s playbook for beating the shortage
At RenoVision, we work only in Sarasota and Manatee. That focus helps us manage around the shortage. Here’s how:
- A vetted bench of subs. We maintain multiple licensed painters, flooring installers, plumbers, and electricians—so if one’s tied up, another can step in.
- Standard refresh packages. Our “good-better-best” options for flooring, countertops, paint, and fixtures reduce lead times.
- Design-for-speed. We suggest finishes that are in stock locally—so we’re not waiting 6 weeks for a backordered faucet.
- Calendar discipline. Once a project is scoped, we lock in crews and sequence trades around your target listing date.
- Reliable payments. Subs know we pay promptly, so RenoVision projects get priority when scheduling is tight.
What you can do now
- Decide quickly. The faster a homeowner or agent green lights a scope, the sooner we can lock trades.
- Stay flexible on SKUs. Being open to alternate finishes prevents unnecessary delays.
- Use a single point of contact. RenoVision manages subs, schedules, and suppliers so you don’t waste weeks calling around.
Final thought
The skilled trade shortage isn’t going away in Sarasota or Manatee in 2026. But with the right systems, relationships, and local focus, homeowners and realtors can still get properties refreshed, listed, and sold on schedule.
That’s RenoVision’s role: turning trade scarcity into predictable results.
