How long does it take to build a home?

Key takeaways

Building a home in Australia takes an average of 6 to 12 months, but custom builds can take longer, especially if they have multiple storeys
Poor planning, weather, material shortages, and the builder you choose can all cause delays, which can be avoided with clear planning and a reputable builder
Building a home typically follows six stages, each with its own timeline and approval needed

When deciding to build a home, one of the most important questions you will want answered is how long it will take? Typically, it takes anywhere from six to twelve months to build a home, but there are many factors that can impact the time it takes to build a home, including the design, the materials you choose, and how many stories your home has. To help you determine how long it will take to build your home, we have outlined the building process timeline you need to consider and all of the factors that can impact build time.

Average Build Times by House Type:

How long it takes to build your home depends on several factors, the main being the type of home you are building. We have detailed the popular home designs below and their average build time:

House and Land Packages

House and land packages typically take six to twelve months, like any other home. The time will depend on the type of package you have chosen, with the house design increasing or decreasing the time it takes.

Custom Home Designs

Custom home designs typically take longer and can be susceptible to delays. A custom designed home will have a unique design that can increase the time it takes builders to build your home. They will need to familiarise themselves with the plans more frequently compared to standard home builds.

The timeframe of a custom home design will depend on your involvement as a buyer, and the materials chosen. Delays in production and delivery of the materials can be more likely, which make it hard to provide a specific timeframe you can follow.

Knockdown & Rebuilds

Most builders advise that a knockdown rebuild will take about 8-12 months to complete. Several factors can impact how long a knockdown takes, such as finding asbestos and if there are delays securing planning permission for your new building.

Click here to read our ultimate guide to knockdown rebuilds!

Single Storey Home

The average time to build a single-storey house (assuming everything runs smoothly) is between 4 and 7 months. This can vary on the floor plans and whether the home is a bespoke house or not.

Two Storey and Multi-Storey

A two-storey house or a multi-storey home can take anywhere between 8-12 months to complete if the design is fairly basic. Something like a split-level home is likely to take longer due to the extravagance of the design and engineering challenges (working on a slopping block for example).

Click here to read our guide on Double Storey Houses
Click here to read our guide on Split-Home Designs

Acreage Home Designs

On average, homes built in a rural area take longer to build than those in the city. Construction of a new home in a metro area averages around 5-7 months, while in rural regions it is approximately 6-9 months.

Building process timeline

So you’ve visited the display homes, you’ve gone through the design process, the property has been bought and you’re ready for your new construction to begin. Here’s what to expect and an idea of how long a new home build can take.

Step 1: Land Preparation

First, you need a vacant block of land, so knock down any existing structure. You will likely need a separate company from your builder to complete the demolition. Land preparation is a vital step that ensures your new home has a solid foundation on which to rest. Surveys and soil testing will be performed to ensure your home has a solid foundation.

Step 2: Slab Stage

Next, your design is measured on your site, and you can see where your build will sit on your land. Before work can get started on pouring your foundation, the following must be completed:

Digging
Set up
Pouring of Footings
Under-slab drainage
Moisture Barrier
Termite Barriers

This can take between one and two weeks, and you will want a professional team of builders to carry out this work. Failing to use a team of builders can leave you with poor drainage or a weakened moisture barrier that will cause long-term issues for your home, including flooding and dampness.

Step 3: Frame Stage

This is where your house starts taking shape as your internal and external walls and roof frame are built. This stage also entails reinforcing steel and conduit for electrics and pipes for plumbing. Without any delays, this can take between 3-4 weeks.

Step 4: Lock Up Stage

This is where the following will be installed:

Piping
Wiring
plasterboard
sheeting of eaves
porch
patio ceilings

Doors and windows will be installed and external walls will be rendered. By the end of this stage, your house can literally be ‘locked-up’. Expect this to take around 4-6 weeks.

Step 5: Fixing Stage

This is where your interior will start to take shape and all your features will be installed. Plasterboard, internal doors, shelves, cabinets, skirting boards and architraves all go in now. Any baths, basins and sinks will also be installed in this stage, and if you’re building a double-storey home, this is when the stairs will be built. Should take about 1-2 weeks.

Step 6: Completion Stage

Now is when the finishing touches are put onto your new house Any painting and tiling will be finished, as well as:

fencing
landscaping
final irrigation work
glass
flyscreens
letterbox

Once done, all waste and debris need to be removed and the house thoroughly cleaned before inspection and handover.

This stage can take up to eight weeks, sometimes more. This is where anything that needs to be rectified prior to handover is handled, so depending on what this is, the time can vary a lot.

A final inspection of your home will take place. This is a thorough check to see if your house meets building codes. The surveyor doesn’t check the quality of your builder’s workmanship (ie, have they met your specifications? Have they taken shortcuts?), so you should also inspect the property to make sure everything is up to scratch. This is where having a building consultant can really come in handy, especially if you don’t feel confident in raising concerns.

Why Use A Builder Broker?

Because your builder choice makes or breaks the entire project. And you deserve to have someone on your side who knows the industry inside-out — and isn’t afraid to keep builders honest.

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Factors that impact the construction process

There are so many ways a build can be delayed, some of which are unforeseen circumstances and some which can be avoided with a little planning. Here are some factors that can cause potential delays.

Weather

Severe weather conditions are the most common reason for building delays and, unfortunately, it is a problem you can only do so much about. Good home builders will try to schedule around weather, working outside on good days, completing work inside on bad days. For safety reasons, most quoted build times allow for a certain amount of inclement weather days. However, with most builds taking six months or more, it can be difficult to predict all weather. If there is severe weather during your build, for example, a storm, heatwave, or even high wind, it will likely push back your completion date.

Variations

If you change your mind about something, especially later in the building process, it can really impact the time frame of your build. What might seem like a small alteration on paper can completely change how a build is approached. This can also happen due to a lack of preparation. The best thing you can do to avoid this is to be sure of your design early.

Materials

Following on from the above, delay in materials means a delay in finishing your new house. This is particularly common in bespoke homes, as customers will want something specific for their dream home. If you change your mind about a material, it will take time to order, which again, could slow down the home building process.

Time Estimations

While everyone wants a quick build, be wary of builders overpromising their quickness. Whenever we review a builder who promises a quicker than average build time, it is almost inevitable we find negative reviews complaining this timeframe wasn’t met. Good builders know to value an accurate timeline over an optimistic one. Be wary of those who promise timeframes that seem too good to be true, because this is likely a ploy to get your business.

It’s also important everyone understands what is being promised when a timeframe is given. Make sure you know what exactly will be done in the time the builder is quoting you.

Poor Building Approach

Sadly, some builders aren’t as good as others. Reliable builders have a process and are highly organised, assuring they’ll finish your home at a high standard in a reasonable timeframe. Lesser builders who are disorganised and have no process can double the time of your build and make things stressful. When planning a new home, do your research into potential builders and see what third parties are saying about them.

Location

The location of your block of land can impact the construction process. Rural areas tend to have longer home construction times than metro areas, due to travel time, product and supply availability, and labour issues. One way to help your home be completed quicker is to try to pick materials that are in stock and don’t need to be ordered in.

Availability of Workers

Traditionally, the summer months are the peak time for new home construction. However, since the pandemic, builders have found themselves busier than ever.

Budget

When it comes to building your new home, you need to be realistic and honest about your finances. Running out of funds mid-build and not being able to pay contractors or for materials is a surefire way to delay the process. These delays will end up costing you more money in the long run.

How to avoid time delays

Construction delays can happen even in the best building projects. Things like the weather can’t be controlled by anyone. However, there are a few things you can do to cut down on delays

Plan ahead. Good planning is the number one thing you can do to avoid potential delays. Try to be as sure as possible about your home design before you begin construction.
Research. Picking the right builder can make all the difference. Ask anyone who’s picked the wrong one and they’ll tell you what a trying (and expensive) experience it was.
Be organised with permits/paperwork. Know what needs to be done and when. Avoid making mistakes when filling in forms. We’ve all had something delayed because of admin troubles so do everything you can to avoid them.
Get regular progress reports from your builder. This helps you stay in the loop and see how everything is going with your home construction. Good, open communication is key to a happy building experience.
Adding either contract penalties/or incentives can help keep your builder on track. If a builder fails to meet an agreed timeline, you may recoup some of your losses.
When evaluating a builder, get information and advice from outside sources. After all, the builder is unlikely to tell you what their weaknesses are.

Find your builder for your dream home today

When it comes to building your dream home, it is important that you are patient, even when there are delays. It is better to wait for the right materials than cut corners and be left with a poorly constructed or dangerous home. Unsure about building regulations impacting your new home in Queensland? We can help connect you with the right builder. At Buildi, we work with the best builders across Queensland and can match you to the right team that will bring your dream home to life. All of our builders come with years of experience and can support you through the process, helping you gain council approval and to avoid delays where possible. Find your builder with us today!

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