When it comes to your new home search, there’s no such thing as “starting too soon.”

Whether you plan to build your new home next year or five years down the road, now is always the perfect time to start looking. After all, it’s likely one of the biggest purchases you’ll make in your lifetime… and unless you’re Bill Gates or Elon Musk, it should be treated that way!

Choosing your builder, your floorplan and your new home’s location takes time and research. Nowadays, most of us won’t even eat at a new restaurant without Googling the full menu and combing through reviews on Yelp! While finding a new home may be a quick pursuit for some, building your dream home can (and should) be a lengthier exploration. Every builder you meet should provide you with the proper tools to make informed decisions throughout your search.

At Schaeffer Family Homes, our New Home Specialists strive to provide you with a full understanding of our building processes, pricing, timeframes and included features. We know the importance of being honest and realistic when setting expectations for building your dream home!

The move-in time frame can vary from builder to builder based on many factors. When you build in a Schaeffer Family Homes community, the process typically takes between 7 to 10 months from the Agreement of Sale. On the other hand, we also offer the option to build through our “Build On Your Lot Program,” which is generally a 10 to 12 month time frame from the Agreement of Sale. “Build On Your Lot” offers you the flexibility to build where you want in South Jersey, as long as you have a piece of land to build on!

Most homeowners who’ve built through our “Build On Your Lot” program came to us without one key element: a homesite! Fortunately, our Land Acquisition Specialist, Josh Adams is available to assist you in finding a homesite that works for your budget and needs. Finding a homesite is where time and patience is essential. Depending on where you’d like to live and what you desire in a property, it’s not always as simple as it seems. Some areas of South Jersey don’t have many buildable homesites available, and even if you’re looking in an area with an abundance, you may feel that none of them are the right fit for your new home. Once you do find your ideal homesite, it still takes about 10 months from signing the Agreement of Sale until you can move into your new home!

Now, we already know what you’re thinking…“So, once I have my homesite, why would it take 10 monthsto build a home?”

Well, there are many factors that go into the “Build On Your Lot” process. Unlike building in a community (where our homesites are “turnkey” and fully improved), this process starts with a 60-day due diligence period and a homesite inspection. Following the homesite inspection, we’ll need to get the proper building permits through your township. From there, we also need to fully improve your homesite prior to construction. Your home is then hand-crafted with great care over a 4 to 6-month period. Seems lengthy, but you know what they say… “If you don’t take the time to do it right, when will you take the time to do it over?”

Nevertheless, whether you build with Schaeffer Family Homes or not, we want you to be equipped with the tools you need to feel confident in your final decision. You may be able to find a new home tomorrow, but discovering your dream home could be a different story!

Whenever you’re ready, we’re here to get your new home search started. Feel free to contact us at 856-208-5118 or e-mail general.info@schaefferhomes.com to get started in your new home search today!