Besides budget, schedule is the biggest concern of our clients. Often, one of their first questions is, “How long will it take to build our house?” It’s a valid concern. As a quick answer, we give a general estimate of approximately nine months. There are two major factors to building a custom home “on time,” however—planning and expectations.
Planning
In our professional opinion, one of the biggest keys to building a custom home on time is planning. Because of this, we utilize Co-Construct, an online construction management software program. This system allows clients to make selections before building even begins. The more attention given to floor plans, finishes, features, and selections before building begins, the smoother the building process.
For more information about the importance of planning, click on the links below:
- How to Design the Perfect House Plans
- 31 Steps to Building Your Dream Home
- Before Building a New Home: The Planning Stage
- Home Building: The Cost of Disorganization
- The Cost to Build a House: The Price of Change Orders
Expectations
The second biggest key to building a custom home on time is expectations. You know the saying, “Hope for the best, but plan for the worst…” Or as it sometimes goes, “expect the worse.” Well, that’s an excellent mantra to have concerning the schedule when building a custom home…
Hope for the sun to be shining while framing is taking place but expect weather delays. Hope that all materials are available and arrive right on schedule but expect for some supplies to be out of stock. Hope that all subcontractors arrive the exact day they are scheduled but expect some of them to be late.
Why am I telling you to “expect the worse?” Well, because from years of experience, I know that these scenarios will happen. Rain, sleet, snow, and below freezing temperatures happen. Materials are out of stock or become discontinued. And subs sometimes have to reschedule for a later date.
And if you, the client, expect some downtime on the job site, you won’t panic every time there is a minor delay. A good builder knows these situations happen and has already created the building timeline based on this knowledge. In reality, they aren’t really delays. They are simply part of the building process.
For more information about the importance of expectations, click on the links below:
- The Secret to a Happy Home Build
- The Home Building Process: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
- How to Avoid a Home Building Horror Story
The Key to Building a Custom Home on Time…
So, the key to building a custom home on time… Plan, plan, and plan some more. Stick with the plan! And have realistic expectations about the home building timeline.
We’d love the opportunity to discuss our home building process with you. Click here to contact us!
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