How long does it take to build a house? The step-by-step building process

How long does it take to build a house with a builder?

When considering building a presold home, many people have the question, “How long does it take to build a house?” or “How long does it take to build with a builder?” These are great questions. We’ll try to be as upfront and honest about it as possible, so buyers considering building with a homebuilder know exactly what to expect.

For starters, you will definitely need to be patient. Building a house is not an easy task and the timeline is in months, not weeks. Occasionally there are also delays related to weather, labor shortages, building material problems, or scheduling issues. However, there are definitely many reasons that building your own home is worth it.

Is it worth it to build your own home? Why should I build rather than buy?

New homes are built with the most up-to-date technology and the best building materials. They need to adhere to stricter regulations, therefore they are more energy efficient, which saves you money on bills. They also come with better safety features like improved drainage to prevent flooding and gas mitigation systems for radon and carbon monoxide. The house will also come with some kind of builder’s warranty.

Many builders will let you design exactly how you want your house to look. If you have a Pinterest board full of home décor ideas, or specific ideas on color schemes and materials, building a new home is exactly the way to bring your dream home to life. If you love beautiful wood flooring or classy quartz countertops, you can make it happen by building.

By adjusting your selections, options, and upgrades to your budget, you can maximize the value of each dollar you spend. Treat yourself to oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, white picture frame kitchen cabinets, a white subway tile backsplash, and granite countertops, while sacrificing a bit by getting high quality vinyl flooring rather than the more expensive hardwood laminate. The point is, you can build your dream house right now.

The step-by-step building process

Without any further ado, we will take you through the building process. Keep in mind that this will vary depending on what type of home you are building, but this schedule should apply to most single family homes in the lower and middle price ranges.

The Legwork – 6 weeks

• Choose a Lot, Home Plan, and Options/Upgrades – 30 Days
• Permitting – 7-14 days
• Excavation – 2 days

The 3 Fs – 3 weeks

• Concrete (footings & foundations) – 2 days
• Framing – 14-21 days

The Guts – 5-8 weeks

• 4-Way Install & Inspection (Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical) – 7-14 days
• Drywall – 7-14 days
• Trim, doors, exterior – 21-28 days

The Style – 6 weeks

• Paint, flooring, cabinets, fixtures – 21-28 days
• System finishes, appliances, cleaning, inspections – 14 days

The Final Countdown – 1 week

• Paperwork, orientation, you get your keys – 5-7 days

TL;DR – OK enough, just answer the question. How long does it take to build a house TOTAL?

To summarize quickly, just take a look at this table (for low to mid-range single family homes):

How long does it take to build a house?	Optimistic	Expected	Pessimistic
Construction	3.5 months	4 months	4.5 months
Construction + Design Time and Prep	4.5 months	5 months	5.5 months

Well, what do you think, does that sound about right to you?
If that’s not going to work out for you, we might have some quick move in options available to speed things up.

Questions? Comments? Hit up our contact page, or leave a comment below.