ᐅ Information from developers varies. What is a realistic construction timeline?

Hello,

with some developers, you hear that houses are erected in 3 months, while with others it takes 6 months.
What construction period is really realistic?

3 months is unrealistic, and so is 6 months.

Plan more for 9 (up to 12) months. That way, you'll be on the safe side.

We are building with an architect, but we started at the beginning of September and will move in at the end of May. We hardly experienced any waiting times between trades, and it wasn’t really a proper winter either. Also, no basement had to be built.

With a slab foundation and favorable weather conditions, six months is achievable, but of course not when including a basement...

Our current house was built in 4 months.

So, a neighbor of ours built his house himself with the help of contractors from April to October 2014. (He took six months of parental leave for this.) A 200 sqm (2,150 sq ft) Frisian-style house plus about 130 sqm (1,400 sq ft) garage with a gable roof.

From purchase to moving in, 9 months is a realistic timeframe, but due to the current workload of construction companies, this is not always possible everywhere. It can be done faster, but that tends to be stressful for everyone involved. There are also differences depending on the construction method and whether you work with an architect, developer, or general contractor. Building permit or planning permission processes also affect the timeline.

The 3-month construction period may be accurate, but no one usually tells you when it actually starts. For some companies, the construction time can be extended further due to interior finishes. "Oh, you want underfloor heating? That will take 3 weeks longer..." If you plan with design and buffer time included, between 9 and 12 months, it usually works out.