One of the most common questions among those planning to build a new home is, “When should we start?” Well, the answer may be different than you think, and it really depends on your specific goals. According to the experts at Build Your House Yourself University, “Many assume the answer is in the spring or summer, because that’s when everyone seems to start construction. And depending on what your goals are, spring and summer are the best times. However, fall, and rarely winter, could be a better time to start.”
Of course, there is a big caveat here: If you live in an area with a relatively temperate climate year-round—like we do here in Orange County, California—you may want to consider starting your home building in the fall or even winter. That said, the biggest benefits to starting in spring or summer are related to more than just temperature—it’s also because the daylight hours are longer in these months, which allows construction to move much quicker. So, if your goal is to get your house built as fast as possible, starting construction in the spring or summer is your best bet.
On the other hand, if saving money is more important to you than moving quickly, starting in the construction industry’s off seasons of fall and winter may be the way to go. This is because there is less demand during these seasons, so you can often get great deals on pricing for materials and labor.
Whether your priority is timing or budget or both, we highly recommend the design-build approach, as it will save you both time and money compared to the system of two separate phases and contracts (i.e., first design, and then build vs. design-build). In fact, a recent design-build study shows that design-build projects are delivered faster and with greater reliability in cost and schedule performance than other project delivery systems (despite common misconceptions about the process).
About the Design-Build Process/Timeline
If you have decided it’s time for your remodel, it’s time to choose a design-build contractor. At Chris Riggins Construction, our team has decades of combined experience in the residential field as well as a stellar reputation for exceeding clients’ expectations. Our design-build process is a tried and true progression of three main phases: the planning and design phase (pre-construction), the construction phase, and the post-construction phase.
The most important thing to note about
the timing of this process is that if you’d like to start construction by a
certain month, you’ll want to keep in mind that the pre-construction phase for
design-build homes takes about 2-4 months.
Ultimately, though, the length of time it takes for a new home build can vary greatly from project to project, and depends a lot on your specific goals, budget, and a host of other factors—so we encourage you to start with a free consultation to discuss the details of your project as soon as possible.
At Chris Riggins Construction, we are experts in—and are absolutely passionate about—residential design-build. No matter what your specific design-build goals, we’ll put our passion and experience to work for you. Contact us to learn more about our process and begin your planning today!
