Building a new home is certainly thrilling. You get to design a custom home with your home builder in Flagstaff to create your dream space. While it’s exciting to start this process, it can also be a little overwhelming. There will be a lot of decisions to make, and you’ll need to be patient throughout the process.
Work with a reputable home builder to stay in communication throughout the entire process. It is important to understand what to expect from the project timeline and have a good understanding of just how long this process may take. In this guide, learn more about planning for building your new home.
The Purchase
Most new home builds start by purchasing a lot or property to build on. Searching for a lot might take you a little bit of time, but don’t settle for anything less than the best. Find a lot that meets your needs and is in an area you like. Once you find the right lot, you will need to work through the process of completing the purchase.
Designing the Home
Before you can build, you must first design. We’re guessing you already have some ideas in mind. Maybe you’ve even already purchased design plans for a home that you love. Your builder can show you some design options, but you can also find some great ideas at hardware stores that provide catalogs and listings for home plans, too.
The design process takes quite a bit of time and isn’t going to happen overnight. There will be a lot of details to consider, including any HOA or location requirements you might have to follow. Then, there are decisions for the architecture and other style factors. Design may take approximately 3-6 months to complete.
Review the Plans and Start Preparation
Once you have a basic design in place, your plans should be reviewed; any approvals needed will be requested here as well. This includes if you have an HOA. If you haven’t started working directly with a builder yet, now is the time to do so. They will need to be involved with obtaining permits and working to prepare for construction. Plan on a few weeks for preparations like these. The site preparation for construction will also likely take 2-3 weeks.
Construction and Completion
You’re several months in with your home builder in Flagstaff before construction even begins. There are many parts to construction, so here is a breakdown for expectations:
- Foundation work: 1-3 weeks
- Framing: 12 weeks
- System and electrical installations: 2-3 weeks
- Drywall, insulation, etc: 10-15 weeks
- Interior installation and finishing: 15-25 weeks
- Final exterior completion: 4-6 weeks
When you put all this together, you can plan for 1-2 years of total time that it may take to complete your home. Some of the timelines may depend on the size of the home, access to the property, and working with the right providers for various installations or approvals. Any type of changes or inspections may cause delays in the timeline as well.
When you start planning for a new home build, be prepared and settle in for the long haul. The wait is often well worth it.
