September 16, 2025

Building A New Home: Step-by-Step

Building a new home can be a lot of things: exciting, terrifying, frustrating, overwhelming, inspirational, thrilling and satisfying. If new home construction is a decision you’re leaning towards, understanding the timeline will help you make informed choices and set realistic expectations. Over the next three weeks, we’ll take a closer look at the stages involved in building a home and how long each generally takes.

The overall construction timeline for a new, average-sized single-family home in 2025 typically ranges from eight to 12 months from initial planning to move-in. While the actual time may vary depending on everything from weather and supply chain delays to available labor, here’s a typical timeline with the key stages of the process explained, with the help of New Home Sales Consultants from Dream Finders Homes in Looking Glass.

Stage 1: Find a Model; Secure Financing (1 to 2 weeks)

In a new construction community like Looking Glass, according to Scott Geary, all the lots have been pre-excavated, with property pin lines, utility boxes, and curb and gutter installed. The first thing sales associates do is help a buyer find the right model. 

“We offer 13 different floor plans and help people find the home that they love by identifying their must-haves, and narrowing down their would-love-to-haves,” says Kaylene Helling, also a New Home Consultant for Dream Finders Homes. 

“From there we can dissect the available home sites for that particular model,” she added, as not every model can be built on every lot.

Some of the homes have predetermined lot locations, per the city of Parker’s construction guidelines.

At Stage 1, once a model is chosen and the builder receives a deposit, the buyer obtains financing from a mortgage lender and structural options are selected.

These would include anything that needs to be draw on the building plans, says Kaylene, such as covered patios and room options.

 Stage 2: Site Preparation and Foundation (3-4 Weeks)

With plans approved and permits issued, activity begins on your home site.

  • Foundation construction: This stage includes pouring concrete, installing footings, and ensuring proper drainage. 
  • Local inspectors approve the foundation work.
  • Tamp and Drain – The site will be waterproofed by putting in perimeter drains where the foundation will be poured, installing sump pumps and underground plumbing, then the area is backfilled, and the basement tamped.
Stage 3: Framing (2-4 Weeks) – Your House Starts Taking Shape
  • Framing: The home is framed with wood or steel; including floors, walls, and the roof.
  • Sheathing and exterior walls: Plywood or OSB sheathing (manufactured from wood chips) is installed for floors, walls, and the roof.
  • Windows and doors: Rough openings are created.
  • Inspections are performed by local officials to sign off on the work completed to this point

Stage 4: Exterior (2–4 Weeks) – Protection from the Elements
  • Roofing: Shingles, tiles, or metal roofing is installed—to “dry in” the house.
  • Siding and exterior finishes: Brick, stucco, vinyl, or other siding materials are installed.
  • Windows and exterior doors are installed to make the home weather-proof.
  • Gutters and drainage are refined to direct water away from the foundation.

Continued Next Week: Stages 5-10 of What to Expect in New Home Construction…A Timeline

New Homes at Looking Glass in Parker

Building a new home is both exciting and complex. By understanding each stage—from pre-construction to move-in—you’ll know what to expect from your builder. Looking Glass builders welcome questions from prospective home buyers and encourage you to be part of the process. The master-planned community is full of trails, paths and parks, community connections and nearby recreation, entertainment and shopping. Stop by the beautiful model homes from Dream Finders Homes, Taylor Morrison and D.R. Horton, today!