We were mid-build on a heavy-concrete custom home when COVID hit. On other jobs, one trade stopping froze the whole project.
Most trades on this one weren't under contract yet. So I only contracted companies that were going to keep working through COVID, and kept our framing and concrete trade, which had a strong relationship with us.
I wasn't locked into existing contracts with anybody, so I could pick for the one thing that mattered that year: who would actually show up.
From memory, a 14-month build finished about a month and a half early. The trades were glad to have the work.
An uncommitted position is an option. When the market breaks, contract for reliability first.