People often wonder when the best time of the year is to start building a new home. Among all the seasons, spring is usually the optimum time to start construction on a new house due to faster timelines, better weather conditions, optimal windows of opportunity for landscape installation, and fewer delays in the building process.
That said, here in Alabama, our mild weather patterns allow us to build from the ground up throughout the year. After more than 60 years serving this area, we at Lowder New Homes have noticed different advantages of building homes in different seasons. While spring is an ideal time to start building a home, the fall and winter months are usually when building materials and construction costs are lowest because there is less demand.
Let’s dive deeper and explore the reasons why home buyers should consider building their homes in the spring.
1. Get a Head Start on the Building Rush
Summer is typically the busiest time of year for general contractors and builders. Likewise, builders also have a more difficult time scheduling subcontractors, electricians, etc., because their schedules fill up, too. The later into the spring and summer you start, the more likely it is for builders to be backlogged and to put your construction project on hold. Starting your building project in the spring puts you first on their calendars – before things get busy.
2. Undivided Attention
Another advantage to getting the construction process started early in the spring is that builders will still have fewer projects on their books; essentially giving your project the same level of attention you’d receive if you started in the winter months, but without as many weather delays. Additionally, if there are special considerations with your home (e.g., specialized countertops or modified floor plans or home designs), the builder can hone in on those issues earlier in the year.
3. Costs Remain Low as Weather Improves.
As spring turns into summer, demand for labor and supplies goes up, which can push your costs a bit higher. Starting in early spring means you have the advantage of building in better weather before costs start increasing dramatically.
4. Optimum Weather and Temperatures for Building.
While spring storms can cause temporary delays, Alabama’s spring weather is perfect for working outdoors, which often means longer workdays. Starting in spring means that, weather permitting, your new home may be completed in a shorter time frame than if you begin in the hotter summer months or during a cold, wet winter.
5. Extends Your Building Season, if Needed.
If you have a particularly large, elaborate, or complex home building project, it may take longer to complete. Starting your home in spring enables your builders to take full advantage of the best weather months of the year. They will have plenty of time to work through spring, summer, and fall, if necessary, with fewer delays.
These are just a few reasons why it might make sense for you to begin building your new home in the spring. To learn more about the advantages of starting early and to look at a selection of house designs, contact Lowder New Homes today.
