The idea of building a house might sound appealing—after all, if you build your home from scratch, you can outfit it with the latest features and make sure everything is to your liking.
Although it has many perks, it’s also important to know that building a house is a big time commitment, from planning and permitting to the building phases required to finally move in (excavation, framing, electrical, etc.).
The average time to build a house varies and depends on many factors, such as the region, the size of the home, and the site. According to the 2021 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average time to build a single-family home is between seven and 12 months, but we can help you estimate how long your unique home-building project will take based on the factors below.
Timeframe to Build a House
After acquiring the lot, your home-building project will go through several phases. The extent of work involved in each phase—and how prepared you are for it—can significantly affect the total time it takes to build your home.
Pre-Construction
The Census Bureau notes that the pre-construction phase takes an average of 1.3 months.
If you’re doing a custom build, this phase includes meeting with the designer or the architect, designing your floor plan and structural features, and choosing all your design details. Remember that an architect costs an average of $6,500 but will often charge a percentage of the total project determined during this phase. You’ll be dreaming big (and then adjusting your expectations) during this phase to get a better sense of what you want for each part of your house and what it will look like.
After the designing phase, you’ll be in the permits phase. When building a new home, you’ll need various permits, which can vary based on your state and local laws. In some cases, getting proper approvals and permits can take a lot of time, so it’s better to plan ahead.
Construction Process
Once your team has the green light to break ground, the final and most eventful stage begins.
Weeks 1-2
Before the builder starts work on your home, you must prepare the home’s lot. That means clearing trees and rocks and rough grading and leveling for the foundation.
Then, your team of pros will measure, dig, and pour the foundation. The timeline will also shift depending on the size of the foundation. Assume that this early stage will take one to two weeks, but it can be delayed if you wait longer for your foundation inspection.
Weeks 3-5
Once the concrete is completely dry, the next step is building your house's frame or skeleton, starting with the exterior walls, floors, and roof rafters and then moving on to sheathing, which is applied to the walls and roof. Expect an additional inspection at the end of this stage as well.
Weeks 6-7
After the building crew completes the frame, they can start working on siding, roofing, wiring, and setting up plumbing. Pros can also install water heaters and the HVAC system at this stage. Not only does this stage take a large team of specialized contractors, but it will also require another inspection to ensure the framing meets local codes.
Weeks 7-8
Walls are installed at the midpoint of the building process. Next, builders will cover the interior walls and ceilings with drywall or plasterboard, then sand and prime them. After that, you or any painters you hire can paint the walls.
Weeks 9-11
Now, your new house has a personality as builders can install the flooring, doors, windows, trims, etc. Functional and decorative installations such as bathroom fixtures, cabinets, countertops, and doorknobs also go into place. Now is the time when you can really get creative.
Weeks 12-13
The last step is finishing the exterior facade. Pros will install any exterior finishes such as siding, landscaping, the driveway, and retaining walls. By the end of this part of the construction phase, your new house is move-in ready!
Factors that Affect Construction Timeframe
Photo: Jenn Austin-Driver /Image Source / Getty Images
Many things can affect the time to build a house, and a few different obstacles can cause it to take more time than you expect. Knowing these factors will help you streamline the process and avoid home-building delays.
The Building Crew
Hiring skilled builders is one of the main factors that can make or break your home construction timeline. A reputable and experienced home builder typically takes less time to complete your new home and will likely make fewer mistakes than you would on your own.
Permitting Process
The time it takes to get permits from your local building department may vary. If you come across any issues, such as zoning or property line disputes, it’s likely to take longer. Generally, you should put in any permit requests ASAP in case of delays.
Location
Depending on where your new home will be, factors like the soil type or the site topography can affect the average time to build a house. For example, building a house on a hill can take longer than building on a level site.
Not to mention that the building season in the northern U.S. is shorter than in the south because cold and wet weather will affect the construction process. Building in the cold or during snow might cause delays—it can take nearly a year.
The Type and Size of The House
The type of house you choose is a massive factor in determining the timeline. Custom-designed homes will usually take longer to build than a standard house design.
Single-family homes generally take less time than multi-family houses. They require less plumbing and electrical and fewer kitchens and bathrooms, which can all be time-consuming.
Changing the Plan
Your design plans may look great on paper, but sometimes, things change once the work is in progress. Unexpected issues, miscommunication about specifications, and changing your mind about finishes during the construction phase can cause delays, especially in the case of custom-built houses.
It’s better to make all decisions in the planning phase and stick to the timeline—and your initial plans—to avoid delays.
Structural Type
The structure of your home may influence construction time. The more standard the structure and construction features are, the less time it’s likely to take. So, while you may want to customize your new home plan, expect that any unique features that may require a change in the structure will require more time to complete.
Supplies Availability
Shortages in building materials and supplies can also affect the construction time. Sometimes, you need to wait around for the next lumber shipment or for the prices of your dream tiles to get lower, which will delay the work and affect the original plan.
Timelines By Project Type
At the beginning of your home building process timeline, you'll decide whether you want to build a custom home, choose a home design from stock plans, or even buy a built-for-sale home. You'll also have the option to work with a general contractor or manage the start-to-finish build independently.
Built-for-Sale Timeline: 6.5 Months
A built-for-sale home takes just 6.5 months to build on average, from obtaining permits to making the final touches. In a nutshell, this means that the house was already in the process of being built when you found it with the help of a realtor. The builder will be working with familiar home-building plans and has likely hired general contractors to construct the home (or something similar).
All you have to do is buy the house and wait for its completion—a great answer to the debate between buying and building a home. You may have little say in the unique structural features of the home, but it's the quickest route to move-in day.
Contractor-Built Timeline: 9.4 Months
You'll wait just over nine months between the planning process and the final inspection when working with a general contractor. A contractor can also recommend building from stock home design plans or connect you with an architect to create a fully custom home. The former will take a bit less time on average due to the team's familiarity with the project, while the latter will allow you to let your personality shine but may take longer.
Remember that stock plans will also lower the overall cost of building a home compared to custom plans that require an architect.
When you're in the process of hiring a general contractor, they will be able to offer an estimate on your home building process timeline as well as your stock and custom options.
Owner-Built Timeline: 12 Months
The Census Bureau deems owner-built homes the longest timeline for a good reason. In this scenario, you choose to skip the general contractor and manage all the carpenters, masons, electricians, plumbers, and so on by yourself. You also wouldn't have the general manager's connections and know-how when ordering materials, knowledge when applying for permits, or general tips on how to save money when building a house.
On the other hand, you have a bit more control over how your house will look and how much you'll spend overall. Just expect the process to last a year or longer.
How to Save on Time When Building a House
As you begin to design your home, you and your team will get a sense of the most practical timeline. For homeowners in a hurry, your contractors may recommend the following tips to speed up the process.
Opt for stock home designs instead of customized blueprints
Understand how to build a house before you start to get a sense of the process
Choose building materials and finishes that are locally accessible
Hire a construction manager to oversee the entirety of the design and building process
Stay within your originally proposed budget to avoid loan complications
Work with a team familiar with local permitting laws
Clarify all design details before breaking ground to avoid material delays
Frequently Asked Questions
No question that buying a house is easier than building one from scratch. Buying an existing home is almost always faster, even if you need to make renovations once you move in. However, when you hire the right team to build a home, they will simplify the design and build phases so that there is little guesswork throughout the process.
Some of the most common factors that can slow the homebuilding process are a backorder of materials, unavailability of the crew, or a slow permitting process. Changes to the design in the middle of the process can also slow up the work, especially if the materials for the new design are not readily available. However, if you stick to some of the top tips for building a house—such as hiring a great team—you can keep these factors under control.
Custom homes can take an average of two years to build, mainly due to the lengthy design process. That being said, when you work with the right custom home builders near you, they can help you map the road ahead and understand what can speed up or delay the timeline. Choosing locally available materials, for example, can speed things up without losing that customized touch.
