Anyone building a custom luxury home in Florida usually feels like the construction takes forever. Indeed, some Florida home-building projects do seem to take significant time, and we’ve heard that a couple of high-end custom home builds in Miami and Palm Beach have exceeded 10 years of development. However, those excessively long development time frames have nothing over Sarah Winchester’s luxury mansion in San Jose, California, which was under continuous construction for 36 years.While there may be legitimate reasons why it might take a general contractor a decade or more to complete a home construction project, the custom luxury home builders of Carlson Harris General Contractors strive to complete their Naples, Florida-area projects in a more timely manner. Given the vagueness of “timely manner,” you undoubtedly want to ask, “OK, so how long should it take a general contractor to build a custom home in Florida?”

That’s a reasonable question, so let’s examine all the tasks that go into a custom luxury home build and parse out how long it might take to complete them. The following time frames are generalized, and many factors—which we’ll review—can impact timelines.

THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE

The pre-construction phase of custom luxury home building in Naples typically takes four to 12 months, depending on whether you already have your planned home’s architectural design and specs. If you’re starting from scratch, working with an architect, designer, and contractor to develop and finalize your custom home plans can take two to six months, depending on the detailed features.

Once the plan is complete, you’ll need to get it approved by the powers that be, and they have strict building codes, especially regarding waterfront properties and hurricane-proofing. Plan on three to six months to secure permitting, though this can take longer if your plans require a variance due to waterfront or wetland issues.

With permitting secured, you can move on to preparing the land for building, which entails clearing, grading, and other work to prepare for the foundation. Plan on one to two months for this work, though uneven terrain or special prep work like a seawall can add to the timeline.

LET THE CONSTRUCTION BEGIN

The construction phase of your custom luxury home build in Naples begins with pouring the foundation and framing, which are typically the most straightforward home-building components. However, the foundations and framing of custom luxury homes usually takes longer than normal houses because of their larger size and higher engineering standards. Thus, plan on at least two to four months.

Once that’s complete, you’re facing a minimum three-to-six-month timeframe to install the plumbing, electrical components, HVAC system, and hurricane-resistant features, or what we call the “rough-ins.”

This is followed by interior and exterior finish and custom feature work, which, to expectant homeowners, usually feels like it is progressing in slow motion. At a bare minimum, this work takes at least five months but usually takes up to 12, as the finish work in Naples-area luxury homes usually involves complex designs, high-end materials, and any number of different exceptional amenities. You did want your luxury home to include a wine cellar, entertainment center, and smart home technology, right?

YOU’RE ALMOST READY TO MOVE IN!!!

When the finish and custom feature work is completed, you’re almost ready to move into your new custom-built luxury home in Naples. Of course, you want your yard to look beautiful and maybe want an outdoor kitchen or other fair-weather outdoor amenities to boost the luxury quotient of your home, so add another month or four to the timeline. During this time, your contractor should be working on securing inspections and the Naples Building Department’s Certificate of Occupancy.

FACTORS THAT MAY IMPACT THE HOME BUILDING TIMELINE

Overall, and very much “in general,” it can take a general contractor from 16 months to three years to complete a custom luxury home build in Naples, Florida. The primary factors that can affect or extend this timeline include:

• Size of the home—a house under 5,000 square feet can usually be completed in almost half the time of a 10,000-square-foot one.
• Design complexity—this largely explains the 36-year timeframe to complete Sarah Winchester’s California home.
• Location challenges—coastal properties, wetlands, flood zones, hurricane considerations, and similar issues can cause additional delays.
• Material and labor availability—specialty materials can be hard to acquire, and Florida’s booming construction market causes labor shortages.
• The weather may not be your friend—construction often slows during Naples’ June to November rainy season and with the threat of any approaching hurricane.
• Builder expertise—experienced general contractors—think Carlson Harris—are usually proactive about anticipating potential headwinds and adept at keeping the project moving forward.

CARLSON HARRIS STRIVES FOR TIMELY NAPLES-AREA LUXURY HOME BUILDING

If you add up the estimated timelines to complete each phase of a custom luxury home build in Naples, you’ll see that these projects take a year and a half at a minimum and two-and-a-half or even more depending on the size, design complexity, and other factors. When Naples-area clients hire us to build their luxury homes, we strive to provide them with an accurate estimate of how long it will take us to complete their project. While we don’t always meet our self-imposed deadlines due to factors beyond our control, we usually come close and have a stellar record of delivering the highest quality luxury home builds in the Naples area. To learn more about our expertise in developing gorgeous new custom luxury homes in Southwest Florida, contact Carlson Harris General Contractors today at 239-352-2460.