In 2021, single family home starts increased by 13.4% from the previous year, with a total of 1.12 million homes begun during that year.
When you’re thinking about building a home, one of the first things you typically think about is the cost to build a home. However, another important consideration is the length of time the process will go on for.
How long does it take build a house? If you were to start the process today, when could you realistically plan on moving in to your new home?
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know.
How Long Does It Take to Build a House?
The average length of time it takes to build a house in the U.S. is seven months. However, there are a number of different factors that can impact how long it takes in your specific instance. For example, if you are having an architect draw up plans, this could add an additional 1-4 months, plus another month for the project to receive the green light. In this type of instance, building a home could take a full year.
On average, it took built-for-sale homes six months to be built in 2019. For contractor built homes, the average time was nine months. For owner-built homes, the average build time was twelve months.
The region of the country you live in also impacts how long it takes to build a house. The Northeast has the longest average build times with eleven months, with the south has the shortest average time at six months. The west and midwest have an average build time of eight months.
Home Building Timeline
Now let’s look at some of the steps involved in building a house once the architectural plans and authorization is through.
- Site work: one week
- Laying the foundation: two weeks
- Framing: two weeks
- Mechanicals: two weeks
- Insulation/drywall: two weeks
- Flooring/paint/trim: two weeks
- Exterior finishes: two weeks
- Appliances/interior finish/fixtures: one week
- Additional exterior work (walkways, doors, driveways): one week
- Interior clean up: one week
- Landscaping: one week
- Inspection and walk-through: two weeks
Remember, there are a lot of different factors that can impact this timeline. The process can be delayed by things like weather conditions or having to wait for materials. You will always want to have open lines of communication with your builder to ensure that you have a good sense of how long it will take for your home to be built.
Looking to build your own home? Check out these custom home builders.
Are You Going to Build Your Own Home?
Building your own home can allow you to create the perfect home environment for you and your family. However, the process is quite a bit longer than if you were to buy an existing home. Understanding the timeline is an important part of the decision to build your own home.
Did you find this article answering the question “how long does it take to build a home?” useful? if so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog!
