When asking about how long it takes to build a house, the answers to this question is the same as it is for many, which is “that depends.”
It’s important to note that factors, such as:
- How complex is the project?
- The land on which the home is being built
- Where is the home is being built?
- How detailed is the home’s floor plan?
The above will affect the timeline.
Custom homes( a one-of-a-kind house that is designed for a specific client and for a particular location) can take longer to complete than production homes (builder builds houses, townhouses, condos, and rental properties on land that is owned by the building firm).
Caveats and points of clarification:
Several factors affect the time it takes to build a new house, with two primary factors being “construction style” and the region and/or environment in which the home is being constructed.
The region and type of environment
Other than the type of home being built, the region and type of environment in which the home is being built is the largest factor affecting construction time. The averages calculated are for new home construction projects, from the start of construction through final walkthrough. In other words, the pre-construction (and permit-approval processes) is finalized and complete (and, therefore, not included in the averages).
The last key factor that causes high variance in the time it takes to construct a new home is “unplanned changes.” When buyers insist on features or functionality of their new-construction home during the building process (i.e., changes that were not scoped during the planning phases), delays in the process are almost always the result.
After speaking with the experts, we’ve identified the five most commonly cited factors influencing construction time: pre-construction and permits, environment, workers and supplies, changes and construction style. Although knowing what to expect may not speed up the process, it might just help you maintain your sanity.
Pre-Construction and Permits
Before a builder can start building your home, the home’s plot must be prepared. That means clearing trees, rocks and other items, rough grading and levelling for the foundation.
Depending on how much work is involved, there can be delays during pre-construction.
Getting proper approvals and permits can also cause delays. Factors like approval on building permit and inspections process can vary between locations and can lengthen the time to a completed home.
Environment
Depending on where the home will be, building times can be affected by region of the country. Construction in urban areas is usually quicker, seven months, compared to nine months in more rural areas.
Although construction workers can do a lot of work in the rain, such as trenching or cutting down trees, there are some things that can be held up because of the rain.
Primary weather factors including the raining season prohibit the pouring of concrete for the foundation and spring rains saturate the ground so much that holes cannot be dug for basements without walls caving in.
Availability of Workers and Supplies
The hotter months are generally the busiest time for home construction. Hence, you might find your new home’s construction delayed while waiting for the necessary labour to be available.
One element in construction time calculations is the available labour pool and how which specialists are needed among the subcontractors, like the electricians, plumbers and framers that the design calls for.
Changing the Plan
Change orders will usually extend the build time, especially if they occur in the latter part of the process.
Also note that when buyers wait until the last minute to choose their finishes, this can cause delays. For example, cabinets usually take six to eight weeks to order and one to two weeks to install. Thus, selecting cabinets when it is time to install them will cost you two months or more.
To limit the amount of time lost to decision delays, you should maintain open communication with your builder. After all, throughout the construction process, there will be many decisions that you must make along the way.
Construction Style
The style of your home will also influence the construction time. Custom-built homes average 10 to 16 months, while personalized production plans average four to six months.
Because the floor plans used by production builders have been built many times before, there are generally fewer delays. Choosing a standard floor plan will quicken the building process because it eliminates any variations that the builder will need to work out.
So what can you do to make sure the construction of your new home is as painless as possible?
Collaboration is the key: Engaging construction managers and going through adequate pre-planning and estimating as early as possible will save time and money in the long run. Delays in construction may be a fact of life, but knowing what to expect and how to manage your expectations can help make the building process less stressful
Related: Construction Costs in Kenya
