By: Lanny McInnes

A very common and important question most buyers ask when looking at building a new home is how long will it take for the home to be built?

As you can guess, there is no standard answer to this question. The answer will be different for every new home, as factors such as who is building your home, where it is being built, what time of year construction starts and how much customization will be required all determine how long it will take.

The construction time frame for each individual new single-family home is impacted by a variety of different factors such as the style and size of the house, the amount of customization being done in the design and the construction, the lot and location and the availability of trades and labour. So, each home typically has its own unique time frame for completion. And any change of mind from the home buyer on design elements, both structural and interior, will usually ensure that the construction process takes longer than originally planned.

Generally speaking, there are five common phases in the construction of a new home.

The first phase is pre-construction. During this phase, the plans for a new home are finalized and submitted to the municipal building permit office for review.

Once plans are finalized and a permit has been approved, the second phase of construction is building the foundation. Excavation is done and the footings and piles are formed and poured. The foundation walls are erected and utilities such as water, electricity, telephone and cable are usually brought in at this phase as well. This is also usually the time final decisions on flooring, cabinets and other interior touches are made to ensure they are ordered for timely installation.

The third phase of construction is the framing of the house. Exterior walls, interior walls and the roof are assembled. Doors and windows are installed once the house has been fully framed. The basement floor is installed and electrical and plumbing services are roughed in. The duct work for heating, cooling and ventilation is also completed during this phase.

Phase four focuses on completing both the interior and exterior work on the house. The exterior walls and the roof will be insulated. Siding or stucco will usually be applied depending on the time of year. Eavestroughs are put into place and lot grading will be completed.

Inside the home, the heating and cooling systems are installed and the drywall is completed. Walls and ceilings are painted, flooring and cabinets are installed and electrical and plumbing fixtures are completed. This is the time when buyers are most anxious to see what’s happening in their new home. Your home builder will usually stay in regular contact with you during this phase to update you on progress and to finalize any further decisions that need to be made.

The fifth phase is the transition from near-completion to handover of the keys to the new owner. At this point, the buyer will be asked to do a walkthrough of the home with the builder. The builder will inspect the home with the home buyer to identify any last-minute work and touch-ups that need to be done before the buyer takes possession. It also allows the builder to familiarize the new home owner with the systems and products in the home so they can use and maintain them properly.

While these are the common phases for the construction of a new single-family home, buyers should always ask their builder to explain the construction process specific to their new home. Many times, there are specific expenses or payments that are attached to the different phases of construction. Each builder may determine the beginning and end of each phase in a different way, so having them explain it in detail is an important step, especially if payments are required at specific completion points. To avoid complications and disputes, it’s always best to get the specific details on these payment trigger points in writing.

Always keep in mind that construction schedules will be impacted by a number of factors once construction begins, and some of those factors are out of the builder’s control. Possession dates are targets based on each phase of construction going smoothly. Sometimes, that target date does have to be adjusted. Having a contingency plan should construction delays happen and possession becomes delayed is also an important part of planning when building a new home.

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