“Hmm … sooo tempting. All of this looks so sexy. When can we move in already?” We know. But we are sorry to say - it will take for ever.

How long does it take to create my dream home from scratch?

The short answer is, it will take at least two years from when we start to when you move in.

To lay this out briefly on the back of a napkin: the design will take 6-8 months and the construction 12. Besides those two big chunks, there is a feasibility study up front, our Design Goal Review, and a block of time between the end of design and start of construction. If we are finding you a plot of land first, we will have to add a few months to the equation.

We have seen the entire process take longer, too. The reasons included our clients desire to spend more time on the design, complex structural requirements, unusual ground conditions, extensive jurisdictional reviews for a few sensitive areas in the Carolinas, and, of course, the disruption of the covid pandemic.

While the supply chain problems still trouble our builders, we have largely learned how to mitigate them. For example, windows and some refrigerators, we kid you not, get ordered first.

Here is a rough timeline that might be close to what you will have to expect:

• Finding your Lot: 1-3 months

• Feasibility Study (Our Design Goal Review): 2 weeks

• Design: 6-8 months

• Pre-Construction (Planning and Financing): 2 months

• Construction: 12-14 months

• Moving In: 1 week

• Your Happiness: 1 lifetime

We set up a timeline with our clients at the beginning of a project to allow them to plan ahead. We use it to guide us through all the parts of the creation process and adjust it if needed.

~ Toby