If you’re considering hiring a contractor and building a new construction house, there are many things to consider before starting the process. You'll of course have questions about cost, land and more. However, one of the biggest questions that people have when building a new home is the time it will take to get the project completed.
Understandably, those building a new home don’t want too long of a construction process. It’s good to get an idea of what the timeline looks like for planning purposes, so you know what to expect when getting started. Just as importantly, what factors can either shorten or lengthen the time it takes to build a house? Read below for answers to these important questions.
How Long Does it Take to Build a House?
If you’re ready to start new construction, it makes sense to get an idea of what you’re in for. Here’s what Realtor.com has to say about building a new house:
“How long does it take to build a house?
Depending on the site and zoning classification, it typically takes from three to six months to build a house.
A ballpark average time for building a new home is four months if you have the pedal to the metal, says John Melsheimer, a home building contractor in Central Oregon.
The key to any successful new home building project is having approved house building permits, a process that can take a long time in some areas. So plan ahead. The biggest obstacles to obtaining a new home permit are poor due diligence, neighbors who oppose construction, and a backlog at the building department.
Main factors that affect a construction timeline
"Location and what I call environmental conditions can slow down or speed up a build greatly," says Bill Green, president of W.R. Green Construction, a custom builder in Connecticut and Colorado.
What kind of environmental conditions? Factors such as soil type and site topography. For example, to construct a house with a slab on a level site with stable draining soil conditions is likely to take half the time it would take to construct the same house on a hilly lot. Building in a coastal earthquake or mudslide zone, or in a fire hazard zone, will also prolong the construction process.
Another major factor to consider in estimating the length of the process is how skilled the contractor is. An experienced new home builder will typically take less time to complete your new home.
What can increase the build time?
The overall time of a build usually depends on the weather conditions. Construction can easily be delayed by shifts in temperature or too much precipitation. Concrete must cure and framing needs to be completed when it's dry outside. So the time of the year a project starts can greatly influence how long the home building takes.
Other factors that can cause a delay? "The owners," says Todd Whalen, owner and CEO of Eclipse Building Corp. Yes, that's you!
If you delay in selecting finishes or decide to add change orders to your new home during construction, you can significantly prolong your construction time. As much as possible, stick with your home design—don’t tell your builder after the drywall is installed that you want the kitchen on the other side of the house, or a different floor plan altogether.
How to shorten the building time
Planning is far and away the most important way to shorten the building time frame, according to Green.
All the components of building a new house are interrelated, so if you plan the build, you can reduce the chance of delays and mistakes.”
Read the full article on Realtor.com here.
Contact a Chico/Paradise Contractor Today
We hope this information gives you a better idea of what to expect in the new home construction process. Building a house is an exciting time, and at Experts In Your Home we want the process to go smoothly and be enjoyable. After all, you should be looking forward to getting into your new home! If you want to get started on the new home building process, or just want to give us a call to talk about your options, we’re here for you. Contact our licensed contractors in Chico and Paradise today.
