Building a custom home in the Poconos region can be a fun and exciting adventure. There’s just something special about seeing your dream progress from concept to reality. The only drawback is that homebuilding is not an overnight process; it takes time. Sometimes it can feel like it’s taking forever. What should you do if it seems the homebuilding process is going too slowly?
Practically everybody knows someone who had a homebuilding project that took way to long to complete. And while it’s almost impossible to set the timeline down to the minute, most builders (including us!) are fairly reliable when it comes to finishing on schedule (or close to it). After all, we’ve been doing this for 38 years, and we have a pretty good idea of how long things should take.
As builders, we understand the excitement new homeowners feel about getting into their new homes. But you don’t want to rush the process of building your custom home, or you won’t get the quality results you want and expect. Here are a few suggestionsto help you deal with the anticipation.
Get the Big Picture
It’s really helpful to talk to your builder before construction begins so that you understand how all the pieces and parts fit together. I’m not talking about taking a class in building 101, but have your builder walk you through the processand you’ll have a better handle on how one phase sets the stage for the next—and some steps require time. Your builder can give you a estimate of how long each phase takes. That will help keep things in perspective.
Keep Your Expectations Under Control
Sure, you want to get into your new home sooner rather than later. But watching over the workers’ shoulders isn’t going to make things move more quickly. If you want to see how construction is coming, set up a time with the builder so that he and his crews aren’t halting work to explain what’s going on. And bear in mind that just because something looks simple doesn’t mean it’s going to happen quickly. It’s more important to have it done right.
Keep Lines of Communication Open
Talk to your builder before construction begins to set up a process and timeline for reviewing progress or raising questions. If you have legitimate concerns, voice them. If you need to make a change in the plan, it’s better to do it earlier than later. The less your builder has to redo, the sooner you’ll get into your home.
Hold Yourself Accountable to the Schedule
There are times when a builder can’t move forward until the homeowner makes a decision or selects materials. If you’re responsible for deciding on materials or finishes, make sure you do so with plenty of time to spare. You don’t want to cause delays because the builder is waiting on you.Here’s a helpful post covering a few more of those details.
Above all, keep in mind that you’ll probably be in your home a long time. A few days’ difference up front may seem important at the time, but in the long run, what you really want is a home that’s built to your specifications and meets your standards of excellence.
