The idea of building a custom home is exciting. It can also be a bit daunting when you consider the unknown elements that come with every project. The good news, however, is there are a couple of things you can do to make things easier. One of those things is to work with an experienced custom home builder. The builder will help you know what to expect, share realistic timelines and answer any question you may have. Away from that, here are a couple of things you should expect when building a custom home.

Research and Planning

The key questions you will have at this stage will be related to how long, how much, where to start and when to start. The most important questions you need to ask include the following:

• What do you want from your home?
• Are your family or personal needs for space growing?
• Are you planning for this house to be your forever home?

Your current needs and the needs you will have in the near future have to be considered in the planning phase. The best benefit of building a custom home is being able to address your future needs. You will be able to either include your needs in the new construction or build in a manner that allows you to add-on in the near future.

How long does it take to complete a custom home?

There are numerous variables involved in building a custom home. It isn’t easy to use a general timeline to give a time estimate. To provide a realistic timeline, a contractor has to understand the critical details. A contractor will also be reluctant to provide you with a schedule until the permits are secured. While it is reasonable to ask how long the project will take, any reluctance to answer this question will be because the contractor wants to give you an honest and accurate answer.

On average, it takes about 5 to 10 months for a 3,000 square foot home to be constructed. This is assuming there are no unique requirements with the land and layout. All in all, it is good to note that this timeline does not include planning and preparation. This part can take some time.

If you have not spoken to a contractor yet but need a rough idea of how long the project will take, you should look at recently completed custom homes. These could be homes belonging to your friends. A builder will also be okay with providing you with a few homes that are similar to yours and give you information on how long the projects took.

Planning is the key to success

Proper planning is how an experienced builder keeps everything on-time and on-budget. You should avoid builders who want to rush the planning stage. Failing to develop accurate project plans and scope of work will lead to myriad problems.

It takes 2 to 5 months for the planning phase of a custom home to be completed. The timeline may also be influenced by the complexity of the design and engineering requirements. It is during planning that a contractor will go over every detail of the land you want to build on, your home needs, long-term needs, as well as your style and design preferences.

The planning process involves the following:

• Location/lot requirements
• Preliminary plans and feasibility study
• Determining a budget
• Determining a project timeline
• Final architectural plans
• Confirming engineering
• Product selections
• Developing scopes of work
• Reviewing options
• Approving selections
• Confirming schedule
• Verifying financials
• Construction agreements

How much does a custom home cost?

The cost of constructing a custom home in Canada ranges from $250 and $300 per square foot. This means for a modern home of 2,500 square feet; you will spend about $800,000. The cost can be much higher for the high-end builds. It is also good to remember that these averages don’t include the cost of buying land or engineering. The average pricing per square foot includes the cost of raw materials. The cost will also be affected by your wish-list. The more luxurious materials you go for, the more expensive the project will be.

Where to start

You should find a builder after sketching your ideal home. Builders love working with clients as soon as possible to streamline the process.

When to start

There is no perfect time to start building a custom home. However, some seasons don’t offer the best time to build. Spring is the ideal time to start construction. The excellent weather gives great working conditions.