Tags: Building a custom house is a dream of everyone in Ontario. In this article we will be talking about how long does it take and what are the steps to go through.
In 2021, many of us now work from home due to Covid-19 restrictions. I included. And this is the year when I think almost every day that it is time to get a house of my own.
But the thing is that I don't like ordinary things. It seems like nothing fits my very particular taste.
So, being a master planner and for the love of farmland, I decided that I want a custom-built house in Caledon in the farmlands.
I had thousands of questions without answers once the idea came to my mind. The most thrilling and important one from them: How to build your own house? Is it torture? How can I do it, and is it cheaper?
I’ve got no one but me to help me answer the questions I start digging, and now I want to share all that I managed to learn during this process with you.
Let’s start with important decisions.
I was completely new to the idea of building my own home, and it wasn’t ever my plan to become a custom home builder in Caledon, but here we are.
Firstly, if you want to do it too, you need to decide what kind of a house do you want? Are you interested in a bungalow, two-story, one-story house, etc.?
The next big decision on your way is how many rooms you need. Decide how many bedrooms you want, do you need a separate dining room, how many baths you would like to have, etc.
Finally, think about your budget. You will need to buy a piece of land, pay for construction, maybe design services, furniture. All these things need to be added to your budget, and when you come up with a sum, it will be a lot easier to make a final decision.
How long on average does it take to build a house in Canada?
At this point, you have a picture of your future home in your mind. I bet you now think that it will take years to bring your dream house to life. Not necessarily.
If we talk about the average time of building a standard 2-bedroom house using a premade plan (from your construction company, for example), it will take from 7 to 9 months.
One month will take to create a plan and approve it with the architect of your home
about two months you will need to get all the necessary permits in your area to start safe and legal construction
Four months and up will be spent on construction, plumbing, finishings, placing furniture, and moving in.
That’s how the typical process looks like. Of course, when you want something special, a custom-built house, you need to prepare for a much longer process.
A custom-made house can take somewhere between 12 to 24 months to finish. On the other hand, you will get an exact embodiment of your dream place, so… Maybe you just need to take a shot!
The typical process of building a house
As for exact steps on your building route, it will look something like that:
Land and plan. At this point, you need to find land for your future house and hire an architect for the plan. Building a plan will cost you from $1 to 3K depending on your needs. You can also buy a ready blueprint for half a price.
Approval and permits. Get the approval of your plan and permits to start building. The cost will vary and can be somewhere around $500-$800.
Making a base. This includes the groundbreaking, making the foundation, building the walls, the roof, etc.
Installing plumbing, electricity, conditioning, security systems, etc.
Installing doors, windows.
Drywall, flooring, painting, working on the exterior part of the house. Installation of the appliances.
Landscaping and finishing touches.
House inspection to make sure that your home is safe to live in.
Closing and moving in. You’re done!
It looks daunting, I must say. But believe me, it will all pay off once you are in your brand new home!
Is it easy to build a house in Caledon OR BRAMPTON?
I can’t say that it was easy to build a house at any point in history in any part of Canada. After all, it comes with the price of your time and your nerves.
However, I can tell you about all the pros and cons of this process, and you will decide for yourself, would it be easy for you.
So, now I have something to say about the “dark” sides of building a house by yourself.
The choice of a home builder
I think it will not take much of your time and inner resources to survive this process with a good house building company. However, a solid company with a great reputation comes with a cost, and it can be a dealbreaker for some.
Taking chances with a cheap company, on the other hand, can become your worst nightmare if they are not as professional as they say. Be very careful when you choose your contractor: it is truly a choice of a lifetime.
Getting on the DIY road
There’s the other way: to become your own contractor. If you plan to do most of the work on your own or at least some big part of it, be prepared for a lot of stress.
I also recommend you to build your own home only when you really know what you do. Don’t make my mistakes, and get the professionals everywhere you need them. If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.
The great result will cost more.
Building your own house will not be cheaper. With all the discounts, and sales and deals, it will not be as cheap as buying an already built house.
You need to remember that you will pay for more customization than if you just buy and renovate a property. Usually, you will get exactly what you need, but it comes with the cost.
This process comes with a lot of additional payments because you will never know what can come on the way.
Now, when you are scared, let’s talk about the bright sides of building your own home.
Total customization
This is your chance to make a house that will fit ALL your needs perfectly. A separate dining room, laundry area, as many bathrooms as you want: all this is in your control, and you can ask the architect to include anything in the final plan.
This also will allow you to add completely unique features to your home, like a wine cellar or picture windows. There’s no more pleasure than living in a home that speaks to you on every level.
Quality control
My favorite part for sure. When you buy a turn-key house, you can’t know for sure if you buy a quality building.
You can live for years there and have absolutely no problems, or get your sink in a bath broken the very next day.
But, when you buy every piece of material, from a tile to a bath door, by yourself, you know exactly what you will get. This gives you a lot of power to cut corners where you can and spend more money on things you prefer to be more luxurious.
Conclusion
Your sweet dear home is your fortress, love, dream, and… the place that doesn’t exist yet. The process of purchasing a house is a long and hard one, and frankly, not as easy as everyone says.
However, with a good architect and contractor, you can get a home in 7 to 9 months on average. If you want a more custom build, it will take a little longer.
It comes with some cons, like the cost, the time, finding a good contractor, and a need to get permits. But, in the end, it will be the house of your dreams.
Is it easy to build a house in Canada in 2021? No.
Is it worth it? Yes!
