On January 15, Carpenter agreed to repair Householder's house according to certain specifications and to have the work completed by April 1. On March 1, Householder's property was inundated by floodwaters which did not abate until March 15. Householder could not get the house into a condition which would permit Carpenter to begin the repairs until March 31. On that date Carpenter notified Householder that he would not repair the house. Which one of the following facts, if it was the only one true and known to both parties on January 15, would best serve Carpenter as the basis for a defense in an action brought against him by Householder for breach of contract?
Carpenter's busy schedule permitted him to work on Householder's house only during the month of March. Any delay in making the repairs would not seriously affect Householder's use of the property. The cost of making repairs was increasing at the rate of three percent a month. The area around Householder's property was frequently flooded during the month of March.