Can You Finish My Home By...?
Understanding the variables that affect the schedule
Many clients approach a builder with an idea about how long it should take to finish their new home. Some underestimate the time the project will require, while others expect it to take a lot longer.
Every builder loves being able to deliver a quality home on budget and ahead of schedule, but the truth is that it's better for everyone when the clients have an accurate understanding of how long the project will take.
Design Matters
The biggest variables in project duration are size, design & site conditions. It's no surprise that a big, complex home on a sloped lot will take longer than a smaller, simpler one on a pre-graded flat lot.
If the homeowners already have a complete set of plans from the architect and solid specs from the interior designer, that will speed up the builder's design phase. If not, they need to include significant time for such planning and design work.
Ball-parking a timeline is straightforward when the home's size, layout, specifications and site conditions resemble others the builder has completed. For a unique custom home, however, the builder, the client and perhaps the architect will need to work together to develop a realistic timeline.
Keeping the Authorities Happy
Another scheduling factor is the permitting process. The number of permits and approvals required affect the overall schedule. Depending on the home's location, you may need approvals from your homeowners association, the city design review board, zoning department, building department, public works and fire department.
Depending on the city, the approval process can be frustratingly slow. Municipalities normally provide lead times for the various reviews and approvals but that time can stretch out dependent on the amount of design questions or concerns.
While the builder can't eliminate permitting delays, it's important to remember that bureaucracies are staffed with human beings. It is human nature to give better service to someone you know and who has made an effort to understand your processes and priorities. One easily overlooked advantage of working with an established architect and reputable builder is they will have created good working relationship with the local authorities.
What Homeowners Can Do
Once the project gets underway, the most important thing homeowners can do to reduce the chance of delays is to make design and product decisions on or before the deadlines set by the builder. These decisions range from choosing custom cabinets early enough for them to be built and delivered when needed, to making sure the electrical outlets are placed to accommodate the preferred furniture layout so that the outlets won't have to be moved later.
Homeowners who want the project to keep humming along on schedule won't change those selections after making them. Changes made late in the design stage can delay plan completion; those made after project kickoff can delay the finish date. Homeowners who understand this will invest the time and effort needed to make firm decisions.
Homeowners who enjoy the smoothest projects take a partnership attitude. They understand how seemingly small decisions can have cascading impacts on the schedule, so they work with the architect and builder from the initial design concept all the way to the final punch list.
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