How Long Does it Take to Build a Custom Home?

A new home can mean everything to you and your family. Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect house or looking to build a custom home to call your own, the homebuying process can be complex and lengthy.

When you’re looking to buy a home, you want things to go as smoothly as possible. But how does that pan out when it comes to building a custom home?

Building a custom home means new everything — flooring, paint, appliances, cabinetry, windows, and so much more. It’s exciting, and you can’t wait to sit in your custom home and make memories in a place all your own.

The idea of moving into a brand new house with all of the custom features you decide on with the help of design and building gurus is appealing. The concept of the time behind it, not so much. Knowing the timeline for building a custom home may put your mind at ease.

How long will you have to wait before you get to sell your current house and move into the custom-built home of your dreams?

Building a Custom Home

Building a custom home can be a lengthy process, especially if you aren’t well-versed in the design planning process.

While the planning itself can be stressful, the outcome will be the exact home you’ve been dreaming about. Let’s take a look at the process of building a custom home from start to finish.

Planning (1 to 2 months)

When it comes to building your custom home, there’s a lot of choices to make. You need to ask yourself things like:

What design are you looking for?
What is your budget?
Is there a specific builder or construction company that you have in mind?

Pre-construction planning for building a custom home can generally take one to two months. You will need to contact a building company, which will guide you through several pre-build steps.

These steps include planning/design of your home — selecting your home’s finishes such as countertops, flooring, and window treatments, and quoting the home build.

The quote for the custom home build can take up to two weeks by itself, as the builders process all of the information from your design plans and budget to compile a quote document, including any potential extra costs.

Construction (6 to 8 months)

Building a home from the ground up is time-consuming. It also depends on a lot of outside factors, like the weather.

Generally taking six to eight months, the build itself has several steps to it.

Sitework

Lasting from a few days to a few weeks, there may be building site preparation work that needs to be done before the build can begin. This depends on the size and condition of the lot you’re building on and if the builders need to excavate.

Foundation

The time it takes to lay the foundation depends on if you are building on a slab or including a full basement in your custom home. This could take two to four weeks.

Framing

From the structure to the roof, framing the entire house is a big part of the build taking shape. You’ll begin to see how the rooms are sized and where things will be located as well.

Plumbing and Electrical

Plumbers and electricians will come in and run any wiring and pipes in the walls/floors/etc. that are necessary based on your home design. Once the drywall, insulation, paint, and trim/flooring are complete, they’ll return to hook up light fixtures, switches, sinks, toilets, and more.

Exterior

Stone, brick, and siding work can begin as soon as the builders complete the framing of your custom home. Exterior finishes can range from five days to two weeks for siding and brick/stone, respectively.

Insulation and Drywall

Now the inside of the home slowly begins to take shape. Drywall can be hung once the insulation is in place, and you can start making decisions as far as themes and interior design elements for your home.

Paint

Is there a particular color scheme you had in mind for your home? Maybe you’re choosing paneling, backsplash, molding, or wallpaper for some spaces and paint for the rest. Here is where creativity comes into play.

Trim and Flooring

Going with tile, laminate, or wood flooring? Flooring work can be a lengthy project depending on how many rooms and the type of flooring you have chosen for your custom home.

Appliances

Installing appliances is a quick process (provided that you have them chosen already!) Stainless steel, black, or white appliances should be chosen based on the rest of the kitchen’s design.

Finishing Touches

Something not looking exactly how you had envisioned? Maybe choosing one of the add-on features the builders laid out in the quote document taking some extra time? Finishing touches mean you’re in the closing stages of the construction.

This also means you will be closing on your home. While the builders may not be present, you’ll be expected to meet with your realtor for any further paperwork and closing specs.

The overall building process can take six to eight months, give or take, depending on the build’s size and the details going into it. This means that the entire custom home building process can take anywhere from seven to ten months, including the planning.

Looking for a Builder for Your Custom Home?

If you’re dreaming of a one-of-a-kind build and a home to call your own, look no further than Northstar Custom Homes. For 25 years, we’ve served as Waco’s luxury dream home builder with projects ranging from $250,000 to multi-million dollar homes.

From design conception and layouts to building and the finished projects, we’ll deliver a custom home suited to your wants and needs.

Posted in Home Building Tips