If you’re planning
to build a custom home
There’s a good chance it’s your first time doing so. So, it’s safe to assume you have questions about the process.
-
How long will it take?
-
What am I responsible for?
-
When will construction actually start?
To answer these, and a few more of your most common custom home building timeline questions, we’re going to discuss (from start-to-finish) the steps we take to build a custom home — starting with the first contact.
Phase 1:
Pre-Construction Planning
2-3 months
1. Contacting Your Homebuilder of Choice
At this early stage, our goal is to determine three things:
1) Do you have a plan? No worries. We can work with you either way.
2) Do you have property to build on? If not, we can help you find some. Just ask.
3) Have you secured your financing?
2. Quoting the Home Build
We’ll take all the information gathered, communicate with our vendors and construction teams, and prepare a quote. At this stage, it’s common for us to quote a ‘total price’ and a ‘total price plus upgrade options’ for things like better flooring or more energy efficient windows. That way, if you’re comfortable with the increases, you can still get what you want.
Once the quote is assembled, we’ll set up a meeting to discuss the document and (assuming there are no change-orders) get your sign off to begin construction.
3. Selecting Your Home’s Finishes
Once your plan, property, and financing are in order, we’re going to sit down and select all the finishes for your new home. At this stage, we’ll start making decisions about your:
-
Doors
-
Windows
-
Flooring
-
Lighting
-
Bath and Plumbing Fixtures
-
Water Systems
-
Heating and Air
-
Mechanicals
-
Insulation
-
Fireplaces
-
Cabinets
-
Appliances
-
Etc.
4. Tying Up Loose Ends Before Construction
Once the quote is approved, we still have two things to finish up:
Finalizing Financing: Before construction can begin, financing needs to be 100% complete.
Final Selections: Before the quote was signed, you chose the products you wanted, now it’s time to make all your final selections including colors and finishes.
Phase 2:
Construction
8-10 months
5. Building Your Custom Home
Now, we can start building. Timing is hard to predict when you’re building a home from the ground, up — every step of the process depends on a ton of external factors.
While there’s a lot that has to happen during construction, here’s what you can expect:
-
Excavation and Sitework: depending on the condition of your lot, site prep and excavation could take anywhere from a couple of days to two weeks.
-
Laying Your Foundation: This will be one of three types — slab, crawlspace or basement foundation. To find out more about foundations, read the guide here.
-
Framing: That is, putting up the entire wood structure and roofing. This is when your future home starts looking like a house.
-
Mechanical Rough-Ins: Our plumbers and electricians will run all the wires and pipes that reside in your walls.
-
Exterior Finishes: Installing the stone, brick, or siding that’ll make up your exterior walls. This stage of construction can start anytime after framing is complete.
-
Insulation & Drywall
-
Painting
-
Trim & Flooring
-
Mechanical Installations: The plumbers and electricians return to install things like light switches and bathroom fixtures.
-
Appliance Installation
-
Final Touch-Ups
6. Post-Construction Walk-Thru’s
The first few inspections – or walk-thru’s – will be internal. We’ll spot-check our own work before bringing you in for a more formal inspection.
7. Closing on Your Custom Home
You’re almost there. The finish line is in sight.
Depending on the type of closing, we may not even be present — this is especially true if you received a construction loan and already own the property.
All in all, the process of building a custom home will take 6 months or more depending on the size of the home. It’s a long journey, but it’s exciting and the finished product should fit you and your family like a glove.