When building your dream home, most people focus on the finishes, floorplans, and features—but there’s another key detail that can make or break your building experience: your timeline.
If you have a hard deadline—like being in before Christmas or moving out of a rental—you must communicate this early. Here’s why setting and sharing your deadline is just as important as choosing your tiles.
Why Deadlines Matter in Custom Home Building
Unlike volume builders, custom home builds require more time, planning, and attention to detail. The design phase alone can take 3–12 months, depending on the complexity of your project and how quickly approvals are processed.
Once your home enters the construction phase, builders often have limited start dates available—especially if they only take on a handful of homes per year (like we do at Amaze Building, to ensure quality and communication).
👉 Missing a deadline or delaying a decision can mean a 3-month delay—or more.
How to Set a Realistic Deadline
If you’re juggling leases, school terms, or event-based goals like “in by Christmas,” your builder needs to know this up front. Here’s how to manage it well:
- Be upfront early: Let your builder know your ideal handover date at the very first meeting.
- Allow a buffer: Give yourself 1–2 months of cushion in case of weather delays or supply issues.
- Understand the process: From design to approvals to construction, each phase has timing implications.
Custom Builds = Custom Timelines
There’s no one-size-fits-all timeframe for a custom home, but here’s a general breakdown to help you plan:
- Initial Design & Planning: 3–6 months
- Approvals & Documentation: 1–3 months
- Construction Phase: 6–12 months
Delays in finalising selections, approvals, or paperwork can shift everything. The earlier decisions are made, the smoother the build will be.
What Happens If You Delay Decisions?
If key decisions (like finishes, layouts, or fixtures) are delayed after contract signing, it can:
❌ Push back your construction slot
❌ Lead to variations and cost increases
❌ Trigger Extensions of Time (EOTs), delaying your move-in date
The best way to avoid this? Work with a builder who provides a clear construction schedule, guides your selections, and proactively communicates next steps.
What Amaze Building Does Differently
At Amaze Building, we don’t leave your timeline up to chance. Here’s how we help:
- 🗓️ Structured planning: We’ll map out your project with a realistic timeline
- 📲 Regular updates: You’ll know what’s coming next—no guessing
- ✅ Clear milestones: From approvals to selections, we’ll keep things moving
- 💬 Proactive communication: So you never feel out of the loop
Download Your Free Guide
Want to avoid delays, stress, and missed move-in dates?
Grab our FREE guide, “7 Things You Must Know Before Designing Your New Home,” for insider tips on how to stay ahead of deadlines, manage your budget, and choose the right builder for your dream project.
👉 Download the guide here and take the stress out of your custom build.
