How Long Does It Take to Build a New Home?
When it comes to home buying, there are pros and cons to every choice. To some people, it’s worth it to settle for some things they don’t like if it means they get their house soon. For others, however, their dream home is worth waiting for.
If you’re interested in building your new home, keep reading for a ballpark estimate of how long you can expect to wait. But trust us—the waiting only makes it sweeter!
How Long Building a New Home Takes
We won’t beat around the bush. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction, the average amount of time to build a new home is around seven-and-a-half months. This includes about a month for getting the necessary authorization and permits to start building, plus about six-and-a-half months of actual building.
Keep in mind that this timeline applies to homes being built for sale, not homes being built by the homeowners themselves. That takes considerably longer—on average longer than a year. However, this is typically due to a lack of experience or smaller construction crews, among other things.
Of course, these are just averages. There are a lot of different factors that can speed up or slow down the construction process, and get you in your home sooner—or later!
What Could Slow Down New Home Construction?
Delays are just a part of life—and especially a part of the home buying/home building process. But being aware of potential delays, particularly if this is your first go-around, can do a lot in helping you avoid them. Here’s what could slow down your new construction home:
Weather
This one’s probably the most obvious potential roadblock. But even mild weather changes can affect the timeline. If it’s extremely hot and humid, oftentimes workers won’t be able to work as fast. And, of course, getting the concrete for a home’s foundation and framing up will be affected by conditions like rain. Once the house’s roof is set, though, weather shouldn’t be too much of a hurdle.
Authorization
Getting the right authorization and permits can take a while. While, on average, it takes a month, it can take much longer if you come across any issues. Common issues include zoning problems, easements, or property line disputes.
One benefit of building in a new housing development like Southbend Vestavia is that most of these legal issues have already been cleared, and it’s just a matter of getting the final approval from the city.
Location and Topography
Where your home is being built will have a big impact on how long it takes to get built. Certain soil varieties are harder to break through and build in, like clay. And things like hills and rocks can significantly slow down the process. This is something you can ask about beforehand, though, as your builder should have a good idea of the plot’s environmental conditions before the construction starts. Be sure to ask in advance so you’re aware of any topography-related delays that might come up.
Builder Experience
This one goes without saying, but we’re going to say it anyway—an inexperienced builder will take much longer to complete a job than someone who’s done it a hundred times. This isn’t always true, of course, but typically, if you’re paying a lot less, it’s because of this point. Someone with a lot of experience will not only be faster, but they’ll also be more confident in how long it will take to finish. With someone who isn’t as experienced, they might estimate four months—only to push it back every month.
Quality You Can Count On
When it comes to building new homes, no one does it like Taylor Burton Company. We’ll build you a custom home on time and within budget. Click here to learn more about what it’s like to live in Southbend Vestavia, and to get in touch with our experts. Your dream home is a lot closer than you think!