Building a custom home is a long process, one that starts before construction even begins. It’s not uncommon for people to spend years picking the perfect lot and designing the layout before even breaking ground. Preparation is key, but once that’s done you may be wondering when’s the best time to actually start building? The answer may surprise you.
Preparation
Finding a Lot
Architect and custom home builders take on clients all year round. Once you’ve found the right one for your project the next step is finding the perfect lot. Real estate is a seasonal industry, with certain times of the year being busier than others.
Generally, spring and fall are the most popular times of year for purchasing real estate. There are more listings available during these times, so if you want more options start looking during those months. Be prepared for some competition though. Don’t count out summer and winter months though, you may be able to score a good deal.
Designing the Home
A big reason we recommend clients to include us in the lot selection process is so that we can help guide you on whether or not it will meet your needs. Even if you go solo, it’s important to let us analyze and visit the site. This way we can design the perfect home not just for your family needs, but for the lot as well.
The design process can take anywhere from a few months to years. As custom home builders, we want you to move into your new Toronto home completely satisfied. That’s why we encourage clients to spend as long as they need creating the perfect design before moving onto construction. The seasons don’t really impact design, but as a client, you should evaluate your personal schedule to see when you have the time to commit to the process. There’s no point in starting the design process if you’re at a busy point in your life. We recommend you don’t start if you’re busy with kids out of school, holidays, or family commitments.
Building
Construction
Most custom home projects start construction in the spring and summer. The cold weather in Toronto means that it’s not recommended to start in winter. The ground may become frozen, meaning we have to spend more time and money to dig. Weather delays such as ice and snow are also more likely.
However, spring and summer are popular home building times. This means that tradesmen are busy and material prices rise due to demand. So while construction may go faster, you could end up spending more.
Fall is off-season so if you’re looking to save costs on labor consider starting then. Begin at the start of fall before the weather gets too cold. Not only are tradesmen more available, and for cheaper, material prices tend to drop.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of factors that go into deciding when to start building a custom home. Toronto’s weather means winter is usually a poor start time, but fall is an option if you value lower costs, although the timeline may increase. Spring and summer are the busiest times, which means labor and material costs may go up but the nicer weather means it will likely be completed faster.
If you want to know more about when to build a Toronto custom home feel free to contact us!
