Eighteen months sounds about right, especially if you’re not going with all off-the-shelf stuff. I’ve been on both sides—once as the person thinking, “We’ll be in by Christmas,” and then reality hits. That domino effect is no joke.
- Totally agree with this:
Had a project where a single backordered faucet (seriously, just a faucet) held up the final inspection for weeks. It’s wild how one thing can stall everything else.“never underestimate the power of one missing part to throw off the whole timeline.”
- From a budget perspective, I’d rather plan for 18 months and finish early than scramble to extend a loan or pay extra interest because we were too optimistic.
- Permitting is always the wildcard. Even if you think you’ve got it all lined up, there’s always some random paperwork or inspection that takes longer than expected.
- Weather delays are real, but I’ve found that custom orders are the real timeline killers. If you’re trying to save money, sometimes it’s tempting to go with something unique or “special order,” but then you’re at the mercy of shipping and supply chains.
I get why people hope for 12 months or less, but unless you’re doing something super basic or have zero custom elements, it just doesn’t seem realistic anymore. I’d rather build in some buffer and not stress about every little hiccup. The peace of mind is worth it, even if it means paying a bit more in interest over time.
If anyone’s trying to keep costs down, my two cents: stick with standard sizes and finishes wherever possible. The minute you start customizing, your timeline (and budget) can get away from you fast.
“never underestimate the power of one missing part to throw off the whole timeline.”
That line hits home. We had a similar situation—our whole kitchen reno got held up because the cabinet pulls were on backorder. You’d think something that small wouldn’t matter, but the inspector wouldn’t sign off until everything was installed. I used to think 12 months was plenty, but after living through it, I’d rather have the extra buffer too. Custom stuff is nice, but man, it can really mess with your schedule (and patience).
“You’d think something that small wouldn’t matter, but the inspector wouldn’t sign off until everything was installed.”
That’s the part that drives me nuts. It’s always the little details that end up costing you time and money. I’m all for custom, but if you’re on a tight budget—or just value your sanity—sometimes standard options are the way to go. I’d rather finish on time than be stuck waiting on hardware that nobody even notices after a week. The buffer is 100% worth it, even if it means paying a bit more in interest.
Honestly, I’ve seen construction loans run anywhere from 9 to 18 months lately, but 12 months seems to be the sweet spot. If you’re building custom, always pad your timeline—those little delays add up fast. Standard finishes save a ton of headaches.
If you’re building custom, always pad your timeline—those little delays add up fast.
Couldn’t agree more about padding the timeline. I thought I was being generous with my 10-month plan… then the cabinets took forever and a half. Custom is awesome but man, “standard finishes save a ton of headaches” is the understatement of the year.
