Congratulations! You’re about to start an incredible journey to home ownership. It might be daunting, but it’s a thrilling opportunity. Building a home from the studs up is your chance to create the home of your dreams, with the exact layout and specifications that best meet your needs. Whether you’re dreaming of a classic Queenslander or prefer a sprawling ranch house, a custom home is completely in your hands.

We break down the stages of building you will embark on as you plan and build your brand-new home. This is the ultimate guide to building a house!

How Do You Build a House?

There are three steps to consider before you find the right builder. You need to decide the type of house you want to build, where you plan to build it, and what size of house you want. Of course, you have to have your finances in order.

Location

Location, location, location! It’s the first step because where you build is crucial to your lifestyle. Whether you want to be close to the beach, or other family, or you have your commute in mind, the area can have a serious impact on your budget.

Size

The point of building a custom home is getting everything you want – so be realistic, how big does the house need to be? How many bedrooms do you need? How many bathrooms is ideal? Are you going to build a double garage, a laundry room, and a chef’s kitchen? List your needs and then prioritise them as you think about the perfect layout and style of your home.

Finances

The financial side of the equation is often the most stressful. First, look at your financial situation and consider your lending options, whether you’re eligible for a first-buyer home loan, construction loan or a traditional mortgage. Talk to a mortgage broken who can advise you on the steps if you’re buying land to build your home outright.

8 Steps to Building a House

The custom home process should be exciting, so to reduce some of the anxiety around the process, we’ve detailed the steps it takes to build a house.

Step 1: Land Purchase

You can’t build a house until you have the right house and land package in your possession, so the first step in the process is securing your land rights. This step is something many people forget to factor into their budget, so be realistic about the neighbourhood.

Step 2: Design & Pre-Construction

Once you buy the land, you need an architect to take your ideas and put them into a tangible blueprint. Ultimately, this choice is personal, but you should hire someone who specialises in the specific style of house design and planning. Don’t be afraid to take your time and speak to several before you decide.

You will also need to choose a builder. Again, ensure you choose someone who will live up to your expectations and has experience building homes similar to yours, in size and style. It’s always wise to stick with a local company that knows the landscape and regulations inside and out.

Step 3: Site Preparation & Foundation

The building team will clear the site to prepare for home construction – this usually involves specialist equipment, whether it’s removing tree stumps and branches or mulching. They will level the land to prepare for the foundation and carry out soil tests.

Once the site is cleared and levelled, the foundation can be poured. This is one of the most exciting steps because it’s the first sign of real construction taking place and this large-scale operation involves heavy equipment and many hands to get the job done.

Step 4: Framing & Roofing

The frame is erected using steel or timber and then exterior cladding is installed. Many people choose brick exteriors, but this is likely down to design choices and budgetary requirements. Once the frame is up, the roof is built to insulate the interior.

Step 5: Plumbing and Electrical

It starts to feel more real when the plumber and electrician arrive on site. Once the subfloor and roof are installed, the tradesmen come to install electrical outlets, switches, hot water tanks and hookups.

Step 6: Interior & Exterior

Insulation and plasterboard come next and that can be done at the same time as plumbing and electrical. Once the plasterboard is mudded, taped and sanded, you can bring in the painters and then lay the flooring. Flooring can take a week and don’t forget about kitchen and bathroom tiling.

While that interior work is taking place, there’s an exterior team tackling siding, brickwork, walkways, and driveways.

Step 7: Furnishings & Appliances

Now the large appliances can be installed by the relevant professional and you can look at placing furnishings.

Step 8: Inspection & Handover

The big day has arrived! Break out the champagne and enjoy. The home inspector will carry out one final walkthrough and then rubber stamp their approval for key handover. You’re official!

Building a House Checklist

A checklist will keep your custom home project on track, and within budget.

1. Find land
   You can’t build until you find the perfect block of land. Choose your layout and floor plan once you have your land.
2. Finance
   How are you funding your project? Deal with your finances early in the process to ensure you can back the build.
3. Budget
   Be realistic when you set a budget, but be sure you include your wants and needs – it’s your dream home, after all.
4. Design & Builder
   Who will create your dream home? Many home builders have designers on staff, so don’t be afraid to get several quotes.
5. Planning
   What permits do you need? You’ll need to check with the local authority to ensure your affairs are in order.
6. The Essentials
   Protect your investment by getting the contracts, warranties, and insurance in place.
7. Preparation
   You can’t build until the land is ready, and the team will excavate, dig trenches, and level the ground to prepare.
8. The Build Can Begin
   There are five stages – foundation, framing, first fix, second fix, and the final decoration.
9. Move-in Day
   The build is complete, the inspection is done, and you are ready to move in.

How Long Does it Take to Build a House?

There is no set time. However, an experienced builder can provide a build time estimate based on the size and scale of your project and they base this estimate on other projects they have completed. There may be delays due to weather conditions, labour shortages, product procurement issues, and inspection delays. Two bedroom homes take between eight and 12 months to complete, this is from breaking ground to handover.

Factors affecting the timeline include obtaining permits, preferred building materials, the overall size of the home and the complexity of the floor plan.

Factors Influencing Construction Timelines

The Home’s Overall Size 

A double storey home is going to require much more time to build than a one-bedroom single storey home. Size will always be a factor in the timeline. Up to 12 months for a 2-bedroom while a tiny home can be completed within a month in most cases.

Types of Materials Used in Build

A timber frame is quicker than bricks. If you’re looking for imported timber, that could extend the timeline. While shortages aren’t as bad as they were, there are supply-and-demand issues. If you want what you want, you might have to wait.

Incorporating Specialised Technology 

If you’re incorporating technology either for convenience or energy efficient features, then it’s going to take more time. For example, solar roofing is going to take longer than traditional roofing.

Labour Shortages

The government has made strides in attracting construction workers, but there are still labour shortages across the industry. Your chosen builder might not have issues, but the businesses they work with for products and materials might.

Bureaucracy

The wheels of bureaucracy move slowly so be prepared for slow approval processes, keep your paperwork well organised, and chase permits if you’re getting no joy.

4 Tips to Reduce Construction Times

• Get Paperwork in Order – Organise your paperwork so that if someone asks for a document you can locate it easily, it’s key to keeping things on track.
• Chase Up Permits – As frustrating as it is, you need to chase down permits if things are moving too slowly.
• Diversify Material Choices – It’s your dream home, but don’t be afraid of choosing an equally beautiful material that is more readily available. Choose alternatives from the outset in case there are procurement issues or delays.
• Plan Accordingly – You have a contingency budget, you can make a contingency timeline to give you wiggle room.

Final Thoughts

There is nothing more exciting than becoming a custom homeowner, but the process can be stressful if you don’t understand the steps and plan accordingly. While builders do their best to provide accurate timelines, there are a lot of moving parts involved that can disrupt the chain.

As one of Australia’s leading custom home builders, Provincial Homes works hard to deliver your dream home on budget and on time. We’ll work with you to create a comprehensive timeline and highlight the potential challenges you may face during the project, but above all, we’ll always keep you in the loop.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to build or buy?

There are always trade-offs. Ultimately, it depends on the style of home you’re building. It’s usually cheaper to buy an existing home because there are no construction time lines or variable cost of building.

What to Do First When Building a House?

Finding the land and choosing the layout is the first step in the overall custom home build process. Once you do that, focus on finding the right house building team to deliver your dream home.

Should You Get A Building Inspection on a New House?

An inspection is a must before the property is handed over. It’s a standard step in the process and if defects are identified, the builder will rectify them in line with the warranty.

Are there any strategies that homeowners can implement to ensure their house is built within a reasonable timeframe?

Keep your paperwork organised and chase things up. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about wait times. A builder can recommend an alternative material if your first choice is six weeks out.

Can unexpected delays extend the construction timeline, and if so, how are they typically addressed?

Yes, delays are part and parcel of the construction industry. We are at the mercy of council approvals, the weather and supply chain issues. To offset these, we focus on interior work during bad weather and try to source materials from a different supplier when possible.