How long will this take?
Builders hear this question a lot. The answer, as with most similar questions, is “It depends.” But on what?
People who haven’t built before often have an unrealistic concept of how long it can take to plan, budget, and build a home. Many variables can affect the timetable. Three that stand out are design, city approval / permitting, and site work.
Design. A simple straight forward plan on a flat lot will take less time than a complicated design on a sloped & challenging lot. The architect will engage, wait for & rely on input from the soils & civil engineers on the more difficult design as well.
Permitting. The legal approvals required before construction begins have multiplied over the years. Signoff will certainly be needed from the zoning board, the building department, the health department, the fire department and, when building in a planned community, the homeowners’ association. In some areas, design committees, historical commissions, water authorities, or other entities want their say as well. Not surprisingly, the wheels of these bureaucracies can move slowly, but an experienced design & build team should be able to estimate the time required to negotiate the red tape.
Site work. Is the lot pre-graded in a flat subdivision with roads and ample utilities already in place, or is it a sloped or steep lot with geological issues? The second site obviously presents more challenges, require more engineering, takes more time & all at a higher price tag.
Keeping on track
Fortunately, there are things the homeowners can do to keep the job moving. These include taking deadlines seriously, providing details on how they will live in the home, staying focused during the design process and minimizing changes to finished plans & during construction.
Agree on a timetable. Most busy architects and builders work hard to get things done promptly, but without firm dates things can slip. Homeowners should always be sure there’s a date for the next meeting and deadlines for the next steps. “The plans will be done in a couple of weeks” is vague. Compare that to “The plans will be ready on March 15,” which provides a clear understanding for all parties. On the other hand, homeowners who postpone scheduled meetings with the builder or architect will also throw off the timetable.
The bottom line is that, if moving in by a certain date is a priority, the homeowners need to be absolutely clear with the builder about it, and need assurance that the builder is on board. Then the homeowners, builder, and architect can plan effectively to meet the date.
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