Buying a new home and being involved in the building process is an exciting experience. Having a home built does take longer than closing on a home that’s already built though, so you need to make sure you are prepared for the timeline before committing to building a new house. While there’s no way to guarantee that a setback won’t happen, there are some things you can do to help keep the build on course and be prepared for the entire timeline.
The type of builder you use will affect the length of time it takes to have your house built. If you plan to build it yourself or hire a general contractor to do a custom build, construction will take longer (about 9-12 months total) than a home built in a new community by a production builder (which takes closer to 6 months on average). This is because custom-built homes need all materials and fixtures to be purchased individually, and there may be some red tape for zoning or utility lines that need to be laid before you can begin building the house. Production builders construct entire communities at once and therefore buy all their materials in bulk and have a greater number of workers. Since they build from a limited number of house plans, these builders have mastered their construction and thus have streamlined the process.
You can’t control everything about the construction process–after all, construction may be delayed by storms or material shortage–but there are some things you can do to help the process go smoothly.
- Interview potential home builders and architects before hiring them. You want to make sure they can provide you with the exact home you want. Ask for recommendations, their certifications, and to see their home plans. Once you select them, have group meetings so the architect and home builder are on the same page with the house plans. The architect will incorporate the aspects you want in your home, and the builder will make sure the plans are buildable and help make alterations to prevent future delays.
- Follow your budget. Small increases add up over the course of the build, and going over budget means you either need to take on more debt or sacrifice other aspects of the home. Change orders made to your contractor’s quote can cost extra as well since orders need to be canceled and items need to be re-ordered.
- Understand the schedule. Speak frequently with your general contractor to know where they are in the building process, what tasks are coming up this week, and whether anything is delayed or rescheduled. It’s not your place to give orders to the workers, but you can certainly bring up any scheduling concerns you have with the general contractor in charge.
When you’ve decided that building your home is the right choice for your family, the first step is to get a good real estate agent. They will help you find a prime lot of land (if you are going with the custom build route), or find the newest communities that fit your timeline so that you can get dibs on the best production-built house for you.
Of course, there are other ways to transform your living situation. West Coast Design Build Florida are experienced contractors and renovation experts who can help you to design and install your dream kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor living space. If you are ready to talk to an expert about your new home, call us today.
