Building a home is an exciting journey, but it comes with plenty of questions. How much will it cost? How do you find a home builder you can trust? And just how long will your block of land look like a construction site?
In this article, we look at the home-building process in greater detail to assess how long it really takes to build a house. We look at what factors might delay your move-in date if you’re building in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region and how to avoid those expensive and stressful delays and be in your new home sooner.
How Long Does Each Stage of Home Building Take?
Single-storey homes generally take 6-12 months, while double-storey or complex builds can take up to 24 months. Here’s a breakdown of each phase to give you a realistic timeline.
Pre-construction phase
The planning phase and design process are the longest stages of building a house. Before you even break ground, you’ll need to have bought your block of land, chosen a builder and picked a home design. This process normally takes around 3-6 months.
The next stage is to seek building permits and development approval from your local council. Getting the green light for the construction process to begin can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on local regulations and building codes, including how your site is zoned and if there are any overlays.
Construction begins
The next phase is the construction phase, which begins with the preparation of your site. If you are building on an existing property and need to demolish your old home, this can add 4 weeks or more to the construction timeline. Otherwise, land clearing and levelling a vacant block typically takes 1-2 months.
Constructing the foundation typically takes 1-2 weeks, but factors like soil conditions and curing time may extend this. The framing stage can then begin, where you will see your home begin to take shape. The average time to erect walls and roof trusses is 4-6 weeks, although this can change depending on the size of your home.
House build nears completion
The following stage is called lock-up. This is where windows, doors and external wall cladding are installed. This part of the building process also takes around 4-6 weeks. The fixing stage, where the finishing touches are made to the interior of your home, will add another 4-6 weeks to the project timeline.
It can take another 4 weeks for the handover stage to be completed and an occupancy certificate to be issued. This confirms that the building complies with local building regulations and is needed for utility connections.
How Long Does It Take to Build with a House and Land Package?
Building a project or volume home is typically the fastest way to build a house, typically taking as little as 4-6 months for a 3-bedroom home on a flat block of land.
Project homes allow you to choose a set design offered by the home building company, which speeds up the process. As the home builders will have constructed these designs many times before, it’s a much faster way to build than choosing a custom home design. A house and land package allows you to buy the land at the same time, ensuring that it’s suitable for your selected design and is ready to build on.
What Factors Affect Various Stages of Building and Cause Delays?
There are many common causes of construction time delays for new homes. Site preparation challenges like the need for retaining walls or soil testing surprises can add several weeks to a timeline. Post-contract variations and permit delays can also add weeks to the expected move-in date.
The Newcastle and Hunter Valley regions also have unique factors that can delay the building process. Here’s what you need to consider if you’re embarking on a new home project in the coming years.
Material delays
Unexpected issues can have a huge impact on supply chains and the local construction industry. This year, uncertainty over the future of Sydney’s Glebe Island port may lead to more congestion at the Newcastle port, which could potentially cause material delays.
This is something to be aware of and make contingency plans, if possible, as logistical changes may cause costly delays to common materials, including concrete.
Weather events
Flooding affects one-third of properties in Newcastle, and, in recent years, there have been several major flood events in the Hunter Valley.
From the beginning of heavy rain, it can take as little as an hour for flash flooding events to begin, potentially causing timeline blowouts on the construction of your new home. While you can’t plan for this sort of delay, it’s essential to understand the risk of it occurring and have a contingency fund to cover any unexpected costs caused by poor weather conditions.
Tips To Minimise Common Home Building Delays
When it comes to building a house, delays cost money. Here are some tips to avoid the most common causes of timeline blowouts.
- Avoid last-minute changes to designs and materials. Early planning ensures building materials are available when they are needed. Even small decisions like changing your mind about the location of a power point can affect where your electrical wiring needs to run, so ensure your plans are thorough and stick to them.
- Hire experienced builders with the organisational skills and industry knowledge to help minimise delays.
- Get your permits and approvals done early.
- Have clear communication with your builder and site supervisor to identify potential issues before they arise.
- Allocate contingency funds and time to overcome any hold-ups to progress.
- Remember that weather conditions like extreme heat can also delay construction, so time your build to make the most of favourable weather conditions
Start Building Now with Vision Homes
Building a home can be a time-consuming process. But with careful planning and a realistic timeline, your dream home could become a reality sooner than you think.
Vision Homes has made the process of building simple. With a large range of home designs to choose from and our fixed-price guarantee, you could be enjoying the Newcastle and Hunter Valley lifestyle within months. Contact us today on (02) 4934 6666 for a personalised timeline for your new house.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to build a home in Australia?
It can take anywhere between 6 and 24 months to build a home in Australia. The timeline depends on a large range of factors, including whether you choose a custom build or use a pre-designed house plan and the size and type of house you choose.
How fast can a house be built?
A new house can be built in as little as 4 months if it’s a small home on a flat block of land that’s build-ready, no changes are made to the pre-designed plans, and there are no regulatory hold-ups.
What is the longest part of building a house?
The longest part of building a house is the planning phase. Meticulous preparation is essential to ensuring that the construction process runs smoothly.