When Should You Build Your Custom Home?

In thinking about the construction of your dream home, “when” is just as important as “what” and “where” — as one consideration that’s often overlooked is what time of year to start construction. Answering this question isn’t always easy, but it helps to understand the standard progression of a construction project. An average new home build can take up to six months to get off the ground, especially when you add in the time it takes to hire a builder and obtain the necessary permits.

The best time of year to build your new house depends on a myriad of factors, from your ideal move-in date to the weather. Here, we’ve outlined some of the pros and cons to starting home construction in each season.

Custom Homebuilding in Winter

When driving around town in the dead of winter, you probably won’t see as many active construction sites as you do in the spring and summer months. That’s because winter is the offseason in the construction industry — thanks to weather delays, fewer daylight hours, and potentially longer timelines.

Still, this could make winter a strategic time to start planning your home build. Winter is the best time to snag a deal on building materials, which you can put into other areas like trends and design upgrades. If you’re applying for permits, winter is a great time to see those through as government agencies are less busy overall.

Building Your Home in the Spring

Now that spring is underway, you’ll notice that many new home builds are breaking ground. Spring is a busy season for home building, as the weather is usually cooler and drier, which is optimal for construction. It also allows contractors to take advantage of more good weather months, meaning fewer weather-related delays and a shorter timeline for moving into your new home.  

Not to mention, starting in spring means that landscaping can usually take place during the mild fall and winter seasons. This is optimal timing since rain and cooling temperatures help plants establish strong, deep roots, promoting healthy top growth. 

On the other hand, great weather also means that contractors will be in high demand — so if you’re planning a spring build, you’ll want to secure a home builder fast. You may also find that starting construction in the spring means you’ll be moving in over the holidays, which is an important consideration for some.

Starting Construction in Summer

Summer is prime home building season, and it’s pretty easy to see why. The days are longer and the weather is more consistent, meaning greater productivity and faster construction.

Building material costs are at their highest during the summer thanks to nationwide demand, so you’ll want to keep that in mind when budgeting. And of course, during the busy season contractors are in even shorter supply — so be sure to plan ahead so you can hire your first choice.

Breaking Ground in Autumn

Due to fewer daylight hours and unpredictable weather, new home builds slow considerably in autumn — meaning less demand for contractors and building materials. Taking advantage of this could mean more expedient timelines and saving on material costs. Another perk to starting your build in autumn is that it allows plenty of time to get the home framed, closed in, and dried in before winter weather rolls in.

Unfortunately across California, early Autumn often means fire season, which could cause delays — and all the more important to build fire-resistant, smoke-safe custom homes.

A Calendar of Options for Your Dream Home

Clearly, the right time of year to build your new house depends on your personal priorities and preferences. Most importantly, be sure to work with a partner who understands those priorities and keeps you updated throughout the process. To ensure you’re at the center of every conversation and decision around your dream home, Clarum offers a secure, online project website where you can monitor progress and communicate directly with your team. 

To determine which season is right for you or to learn more about Clarum’s approach to building high-performance, custom homes, give us a call at (650) 322-7069.