How Long Does It Take to Build a New Custom Home?
Factors Influencing Home Building Time
Building timeline should be communicated clearly to avoid unrealistic expectations found in Common Arguments Builders Have With Homeowners.
Architectural Planning Timeline
The amount of time it takes to build a new, custom home depends on the size, complexity, and geographic location (what part of the country you are building in). The time it takes just to complete the architectural plans depends on how timely you make decisions and your availability to meet with your designer and builder for design meetings.
Preliminary Planning and Approvals
On average, it takes approximately 3 to 6 months to develop a preliminary set of plans, price them, make revisions, and get approvals to move forward. It can take an additional 2 to 3 months to finalize construction drawings, selections, the construction budget, engineering, well/septic approvals, landscape plans and final HOA/DRB approvals (if a Storm Water plan is required, it can take an additional 1 to 2 months to get drawings, pricing, and approvals).
Construction Phase Duration
Once construction begins, it typically takes approximately one month of construction per $100,000 worth of work. For example, a $1,600,000 project would typically take approximately 16 months to complete. (Note: Weather, market conditions, and labor availability can all affect the construction schedule). These estimates assume normal market conditions, which allow for a timely response from vendors and subcontractors.
Considerations and Caution
It’s important to understand the realistic timeline you get from your builder and the things that may delay a timely completion process. Beware of a builder who promises an overly idealistic timeline just to get the contract. In the end, you’ll be stuck with the reality timeline.
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Ask you builder how long the design, permitting and building process takes and what would cause delays in the process.
Building A Quality Custom Home
Want to know more? This book by Sean Sullivan is full of helpful information in easy-to-read chapters like this blog post.
It is a step-by-step guide to the “must-know” issues of building your dream home. Discover the custom-home construction secrets that could save you headaches, heartaches, and thousands (if not tens of thousands) of dollars.
