How Long Does it Take to Build a New Custom Home in South Carolina?

July 8, 2025

We would all love for the process of building a new house to be practically instantaneous, but the reality is that new home construction timelines take a number of months. If you’re interested in building a custom home in South Carolina, tell us more about the features you want to include, and we can estimate how long construction may take.

The more unique a home is, the bigger it is, and the amount of land preparation work that must be done on a property before construction can all impact how long it takes to build a custom home. In addition to estimating the length of the build, we can alert you to any potential issues with the schedule, like supply chain issues or weather problems. And we will work with you to make sure your build progresses as smoothly as possible. We will keep you updated and involved every step of the way.

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How Long Can it Take to Build a New Custom Home in South Carolina?

Building a pre-engineered base home might only take a few months. These homes are already planned out, and our builders have constructed them before and can do so again for clients in South Carolina. Building a fully custom home may take a bit longer because of the increased personalization, but we can still strive to get you and your family moved in as soon as possible.

This doesn’t include the time required to have an architect design your home. It also doesn’t include time spent ironing out building details and finding builders you can trust.

It’s also important to prepare for possible supply chain issues, which weren’t common before 2020.

If you buy a new house that is “built for sale,” or a spec house, you may not have long to wait at all. That said, you also won’t have much input into the finishes and building materials used depending on when you see and decide to purchase the home. If you catch it before all the finishes are installed, you can make a lot of choices yourself. In other cases, a spec home may be almost finished by the time you see it, meaning your move-in date might be earlier than anticipated.

Of course, many factors can impact the time it takes to build a particular single-family home, all of which we can discuss with you.

To get the most accurate building timeline possible, please speak with our experienced builders. We will be glad to give an estimate for your custom home’s construction time as we walk through the building process with you.

What Factors Can Affect Your Building Timeline for a Custom Home?

Lots of factors affect the building timeline for a custom home, from whether or not you have already purchased the land you plan to build on, and if so, whether that land must be developed or not before building can begin.

Whether You Have Purchased a Lot

If you want to build a custom home but still need to find a suitable lot, that may delay the construction process. Feel free to contact us for help planning your dream custom home, even if you haven’t yet purchased land to build on. We can get started learning more about your vision and hopes for the custom build so that construction may commence soon after you purchase a lot in South Carolina.

Home Size

The building-a-house timeline may be a few months longer for a bigger home. Building a 1,500-square-foot home is typically quicker than building a 7,000-square-foot home.

Our South Carolina custom home builders can provide you with realistic estimates of how long your particular project is expected to take. We can also explain how the size of your project may impact the estimated time to complete.

Permit Turnover Time

Constructing a dream home often involves numerous building permits. Some towns and counties in South Carolina can process permit requests quickly. Others may have a much longer turnover time. The more complex a project is, the longer it may take for permits to get approved, and our builders can factor this into our overall timeline for the build. We are familiar with each town’s codes and processes here in Central South Carolina and can help to expedite things as much as possible.

Inspection Request Wait Time

Inspections must be conducted after each phase of building to ensure the home meets current local building codes. Home builders request inspections in advance. Each permitting office has its own process and expected turnaround time.

Expect that the wait time may be longer in busy seasons or if a project is particularly complicated.

Financing Issues

If you hit any snags when getting a construction loan, it could create a setback for your home-building timeline. Thankfully, you can explore financing options ahead of time so you don’t have any surprises. Keeping lines of communication open between lenders, homeowners, and builders throughout construction is always important, and our builders can facilitate this from our end of things.

Climate and Location of Home Build

Some parts of construction that our builders can complete even in extreme heat, rain, ice, cold, and lots of other weather South Carolina experiences. That said, many aspects of construction require specific weather conditions. If conditions aren’t right, the integrity and quality of the finished home could be compromised.

New home building times vary across the U.S., sometimes due to local climates. If you are building in the South, you can expect your home to be finished several months sooner than if you are building in the Northeast. Ice and snow tend to delay construction, and such cold conditions aren’t nearly as common in South Carolina.

Other differences in building times are related to rural vs. urban areas. If you build way out in the country, it’s possible it may be an extra month or two for your house to be finished than if you are building in a city area. This can be simply due to the supply of available construction workers and equipment in the area or the level of demand for services.

If you want to build your house in an extremely remote location that is difficult to access, this could also increase the time it takes to build your home. For example, if you choose a private island or the top of a mountain without major roadways, your build will probably take longer.

During busy times like summer or after a major hurricane, flood, or other disasters in an area, it may be more difficult to find available workers. If there is a shortage of construction workers in an area during your house build, this can affect some home builders’ staffing abilities.

Complexity of the Home Build

Simple house plans tend to move more quickly through the construction timeline. With a production home, for example, builders reuse the same floor plans, products, and processes repeatedly.

This cookie-cutter approach reduces costs and time spent on building a house. It also limits a buyer’s options and customization, which our South Carolina custom home builders encourage.

The particular interior finishes/exterior finishes you choose may also play a factor in how long the build takes. Some finishes and materials take longer to receive when ordered.

Adding a coat of paint or two may not take more than a few days to finish. However, some materials require longer installation, or there may be curing periods to consider. Furthermore, if you want something that is currently on backorder, there may be an additional delay as well.

A custom home builder may take a bit longer to finish your project because the home design is highly specialized and personalized. Complicated home plans often take longer to build because these homes are not being produced en masse as cookie cutters.

For example, suppose you want an extremely specialized home for multi-generational living that is much larger, has two kitchens, more bathrooms, and an additional laundry room. In that case, it may take a bit longer to construct your custom home.

Or if you want to build a home with extremely complex ceiling designs, intricate wood floor patterns, or detailed customized murals, expect it to take longer.

The payoff is that you will get to enjoy your exact dream home in the end.

Amount of Land Preparation

Issues could potentially arise when crews are clearing the lot. We know how to walk you through anything that may come up. Soil tests must meet certain requirements. Some areas have laws restricting tree removal for trees with diameters above a specific threshold, which could be a concern.

Excavation could expose unexpected springs or other landform features that may force plans to change.

If you are having a basement dug, this may add to the time involved in site preparation. The depth of bedrock, drainage issues after rough grading, and whether you live in an area that experiences significant winter freezing may impact the amount of time required to prepare your lot, too.

If the Land is Undeveloped

If the land you plan to build on is fully undeveloped, there’s extra work we need to do. For example, we need to add utility access for water and sewer lines. We also need to add electricity and gas access, as well as road access. If you plan to build on undeveloped land, we can factor that into the total budget and building timeline to give you a clearer idea of when your home will be complete in South Carolina.

Contractor’s Timeline Process and Practices

It is wise to choose a contractor who seeks to set firm deadlines and who strives to keep each milestone of the project on schedule with the building process, like the builders at Blythe Custom Homes. Issues will arise, of course, but if you have a home builder who tries to stick with the set schedule, you will be able to avoid any unnecessary delays.

Always verify a custom builder’s policy on handling deadlines and delays before hiring them. Be sure you and the builder are on the same page.

Number of Decisions Unmade Before Building Starts

If you can make most of your decisions about home design, exterior walls, finishes, hardware, colors, and appliances before you begin building a custom home, this will help keep the timeline moving along with minimal delays. It is probably impossible to make every decision in advance.

But it’s important to realize that the more changes that have to be made after building begins, the more delays you can expect. This is especially true if the new choices require something to be torn down and redone, an extra inspection, a change in materials, or additional time for delivery of a special order.

Some factors in the time involved in building a home or custom home are out of a builder’s or buyer’s control, but others can be managed wisely. This will help keep your wait to a minimum as you prepare to move into your amazing new dream home.

Supply Chain Issues

Unfortunately, supply chain issues can be a problem. Sometimes materials are quickly available. Other times, there can be a longer wait than anyone would like. The best way to be prepared is to talk candidly with your builder about what to expect and how to best hedge against any issues on your project.

Our builders can help you determine what materials may be likely to be on backorder and which ones might be more readily available for your custom build in South Carolina. We can help you pivot, if necessary, so that you can have the look you desire in a reasonable timeframe.

What if it Takes Too Long to Build My Custom Home?

It’s understandable why clients might be wary of building a custom home, just because of the potential length of construction. If a custom build takes too long, the homeowner might feel stressed, which is why working diligently to stay on track is important. We have been through this process well over 100 times here in the Midlands of South Carolina and can expertly guide you through to be sure things go well.

Some reasons for extended building timelines are simply unavoidable, such as weather damage or supply chain issues. Others might be because the builder fails to meet deadlines or prioritize the build.

If it takes too long to build your custom home, you might face overruns that your lender may or may not cover. While some schedule delays are out of our control, we can create some cushion in your budget for potential roadblocks, like permitting issues or land development hindrances, so you avoid pitfalls if the build takes longer than anticipated.

How Long Does it Take to Plan a New Custom Home?

Before we can break ground, you must approve of the home plans. Planning a custom build takes time in and of itself, and you should not rush this process for any reason.

We take time to fully appreciate a client’s wants and needs for their custom home when planning it. If you are starting from scratch, there are numerous decisions to be made, including the size of the home, the number of bedrooms, and the house’s style. You should be completely satisfied with your home building plans before signing off on them, so feel free to voice any concerns or changes you would like to make.

Clients can customize house plans from our portfolio of homes to make them more unique and personalized. If you take this route, you may be able to plan and build your home sooner, as we may only tweak some parts of the plans to better suit you and your family.

Planning a custom home is more than just choosing the square footage and general layout. It also involves making any aesthetic decisions, all of which we can help you with in South Carolina.

How Can I Stay Updated on the Progress of My Custom Build in South Carolina?

In addition to giving clients general building timelines we work hard to stick to, we also keep clients updated on the progress of their custom builds throughout construction. We inform clients if we are ahead of schedule, there are supply chain issues, or even if bad weather has temporarily delayed construction.

Go on Walkthroughs

Going on walkthroughs is a great way to stay updated on the progress of the build. We schedule walkthroughs with clients after each major stage of construction. Once the rough-ins are done, drywall is installed, and before the final touches are finished, you can come, walk around the site, and see your new home come to life.

If weather, permitting issues, or other unforeseen problems stall construction on your build, you may still walk through the site with our builders and vendors to see the progress and make some important decisions. We can help you work around issues to provide exactly what you need and to give you the peace of mind you deserve.

Message Through BuilderTrend

We also contact clients through BuilderTrend. This app lets us document what happens on walkthroughs, log some decisions you make during construction, and explain building potential delays or give progress updates.

Clients can also message us on BuilderTrend on non-walkthrough days, and are welcome to ask any questions they have, whether they are timeline-related or not.