The Number One Question Homebuyers Want To Know:
How Long Does It Take To Build A Home?
How long will it take to build your home?
The answer depends on several
schedule milestones in our new home business process model. And the duration depends on what we are building and the site. But, many homes could take eight to twelve months of construction time and some more complicated can take much longer than twelve months.
Settlement On Tear-down Lot Impacts How Long It Takes To Build A Home
This usually depends on the seller of the property.
But, typically this will be two to three months from a ratified land sales contract. And sometimes we will settle on a property in less than a week and their are occasions settlement can be pushed out six months or more.
Create New Home Plans & Specifications:
This will depend on how many design, pricing and selection options you’d like to see and how decisive you are
making decisions.
We find three months is a brisk pace but possible, however, every client has their own pace for research and analysis. We have had clients take a year or more making decisions and we will not apply for a permit until all the decisions are made.
And anytime you request changes, please allow for more research time and design time (and you may need more time to make decisions and choose priorities).
And after all your design and selection choices have been made, we’ll apply for building permits.
If decisions (no matter how seemingly minor) are not complete or decisions are changed, any changes to plans, selections or to permits will cause delays.
Apply For Building and Demolition Permits When All Decisions Are Made To Minimize The Time It Takes To Build A Home
Measure twice, cut once. I’m sure you’ve heard that one before.
Proper planning will reduce delays in the progress of the actual construction of your home.
So, as already mentioned above,
it’s best to have all decisions made before we go and apply for your new home building permits.
It’s possible to make changes to the permit application, but it can
really cause delays and be a big head-ache in the permitting process.
Each municipality we build in has their own permit application procedures and requirements.
But, typically, allow for five plus or minus months for Fairfax County, Arlington County and Montgomery County.
If it’s an incorporated township like the Town of Somerset, the Town of Chevy Chase or the City of Falls Church, allow for more time due to another level of review by the township.
And sometimes in these townships, neighbors may have more input
on approvals.
If it’s in Washington D.C., plan on the permitting process to taking much,
much longer than in these other jurisdictions.
Construct New Home
Once we have the demolition permit and the building permit in hand,
we typically will be required to meet with the municipality inspector
on site.
The site inspector will direct us if there are additional requirements
regarding specific details related to site conditions.
For example, the site inspector may direct us as to where a temporary
driveway would be located.
Or the inspector may have special instructions for a sediment control
fence in order to control run off from a rain so debris does not travel into
the street or a neighboring property.
Our model generally is to build a home in about twelve plus or minus months.
This can be extended if there are weather conditions or vendor delays
or other events outside of our control.
If if the home design has special high-end or complex design details
or materials, or if the home is very large,
the time-line could go well beyond the twelve months.
Watch this video below
Watch this video below to learn how long the whole process from tear-down
lot purchase, to home design, permitting process and through building the
new home will take.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Long It Takes To Build A Home
It depends on many details, but our model is twelve months. But, each home and each home plan, site and client will be a different build time.
There are many factors impacting the build time for a new home. The obvious factors are weather and vendor delays.
Some not so obvious factors are changes during the course of the construction. No matter how seemingly minor a change is, all changes will impact the schedule in one way or another.
Yes, when a change occurs in the design and building process will have major impacts on the home build schedule.
For example, changes made to the home plan prior to obtaining the home building permit may not have major impacts on the schedule.
But a change during the construction process could cause major delays and in some cases stop the job.
If you’d like to discuss our building lots, new homes or new home plans, call 301-370-6463 today!
Or schedule your New Home Strategy Call here
Want more helpful information before you buy a building lot for your new home?
Check out the three critical steps you need to do before you buy any building lot here