HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A HOUSE?

In this day and age, reality TV has certainly cultivated some murky waters around how long it actually takes to build a house from scratch. It definitely takes more than the few days or weeks most reality shows falsely portray. In fact, you’re probably looking at being in construction for at least six months depending on how ambitious your plans are and a number of other factors.

What to consider before building a house?

It’s understandable that waiting for your home to be built can be a bit of a roller coaster ride. In fact, the key to building your own home quickly comes down to being well-prepared before starting the project. This means doing your homework. If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Here are some key aspects that could set you back if you haven’t considered them before tackling the project:

• Only trained architects who are registered with the SA council of architectural professionals can draw up the building plans for you to submit to your local council. This is often where the delays start. Depending on which local authority you submit your plans to, as well as their backlog of plans awaiting approval, you can expect to wait for anything from “2 to 8 weeks” after submission, so you want to make sure the plans have the best chance for approval first time round.
• It’s important to partner with reputable contractors too. Their work-ethic and quality checks can also make or break your timelines.
• How long it takes to build your house will also ultimately depend on the size of the building, the complexity of the architectural design, the materials you’re planning on using, and how readily available these materials are (import delays can often pop up unexpectedly).
• Running out of funds can be another reason for unnecessary delays. The cost of the land, the home’s finishes, professional fees, council planning approvals, water and electrical connections, NHBRC registration, municipal rates, as well as any additional costs, such as the cost of renting while you build, must be fully considered to make sure you don’t have to hit pause mid-build so you can save up more money to afford everything.

What are the stages of building a new house?

The first stage of any new house construction is finding and purchasing a plot of land on which to build and, if necessary, the site clearance in preparation for establishing a workforce. This goes hand in hand with appointing a builder and construction partners, as well as commissioning an architect to assist with the municipal plan submission. You’ll need to have the details of all your contractors and all their cost estimates on the paperwork for your approval process. You will also need to accommodate a number of inspections to be carried out by structural engineers and building inspectors before, during, and even after your construction is completed.

What are the biggest obstacles to your ideal timeline?

There are many things, both expected and unexpected, that can end up pushing the timelines on your new house build. However, knowing about some of these factors can help you prepare contingencies just in case they are avoidable.

• Weather – choose a time of year when you’re likely to have the least rain and more dry days.
• December – this is when many construction companies and building suppliers might close for the festive season.
• Neighbours – you may get unlucky and experience agitated or aggressive neighbours who hinder your progress. To avoid upsetting the neighbours, only tackle any noisy or messy construction work between 8 am-5 pm on weekdays.
• Pivoting – you may require alteration or adaptations to your plans along the way. This may or may not require you to resubmit plans for approval.
• Cashflow – contractors require deposits, and the invoices come in fast and hard after that.

Plan ahead and work with reputable professionals

There are several common delays that can affect how long it takes to build a house. Some can be avoided or mitigated with proper planning and process, but some will simply have to be worked through as they arise. If building your own home sounds like an exciting project you want to tackle, speak to your local RE/MAX office to help you find that perfect piece of land today!