The Process of New Home Construction

05 Sep The Process of New Home Construction

New Home Construction can be quite frustrating. As daunting as it may seem, the process of building a home follows a fairly tidy path — as long as you establish what you want and find the right builder to make it happen.

It can be quite the rewarding experience to be involved in your own home construction project. It takes equal doses of creativity and project management skills, and any aspect that you are anxious about, your builder can help you understand. For starters, here’s a look at what to expect from custom home construction.

Buyer’s Timeline for New Home Construction

Teamwork is the name of the game. The process starts with conversations and planning, and takes flight when the builder’s team is ready to execute the plans. All along the way, home construction is a process of talking things over and writing things down.

For the homeowner, your role in home construction follows this path:

Brainstorming: Talk with your family, browse those magazines, and visit some open houses — before you take any concrete steps, you need to establish a vision and priorities. The more you know what you want and care about, the easier it will be to set your budget and find the right contractor.

Budgeting: Your assets and income are not the only factors here. Learn about the local market and costs of optional features and premium finishes that you like. When you are comfortable with you budget, seek pre-approval for financing.

Location: Scout neighborhoods for open lots or obvious tear-down candidates. Investigate HOA rules, school zoning, and all those details to make sure you’ll be comfortable in the location.

Pick a contractor: You really need a whole team of people, not just an architect or general contractor. Home construction starts with blueprints and progresses to some truly nitty-gritty details. Make sure you find a builder with great communication, a portfolio that speaks to the kind of home you want to build, and also builds great rapport with you.

Staying engaged: Change happens — whether you initiate a departure, or a material goes out of stock, or inclement weather throws a curveball to the schedule. Meet with your contractor regularly or at least exchange emails and calls on a weekly basis, and visit the site to view the home construction in progress and make sure the project manager is overseeing the subcontractors well. Benchmarks help everybody feel confident and organized throughout the project.

Up from the Foundation: The Actual Home Construction Process

It also helps to understand the building process so you can make sense of the schedule and know what to expect at each step. Here’s the home construction process laid out in a basic timeline:

• Permits and approvals
• Site clearing, leveling, excavation
• Pouring the foundation
• Framing
• Utilities: wiring, plumbing, HVAC
• Interior finishes
• Exterior finishes
• Fixtures, paint, final touches

Finally, you should be able to ask your contractor about post-construction services. The builder should provide touch-ups, missing fixtures, and repairs to unexpected issues shortly after you move in. We at Mcneil Construction believe that home construction is not really over, until the house is truly livable and meets the specifications of the contract. Contact us and enjoy the benefits of a service that is second to none.