Beginning to Build a Custom Home in Winter Puts You at an Advantage. Here's Why.

Many aspiring homeowners spend their Winters sitting around and waiting for warm weather to start customizing and building a home. At Straight Edge Builders, you can start the process any time of year, and Winter may actually add convenience. 

The first steps of building aren't building at all; they're creative and administrative requirements that take time. So, get them out of the way, and do the real building in the beautiful Spring weather.

Start Now, Thank Yourself in Summer!

There are special seasonal advantages to starting the process of building your home in Winter. Let's dive into them.

• Before construction, you or your contractor is responsible for:

  • Acquiring land

  • Deciding on and confirming the floor plan

  • Deciding on customizations

  • Securing financing

  • Securing permits

  • And more

All of these tasks require valuable time; in fact, waiting for permits can take anywhere between 30 and 90 days. So, make the long Winter a productive one and get them all out of the way. You'll be ready to build in Spring!

• You're more likely to move in during the Summer. It's much more comfortable to make several trips in and out of a new home with all of your boxes in warm weather than in freezing, lakeshore weather. Furthermore, the timing opens up opportunities, like:

  • Hosting a barbecue at the end of moving day. Thank your moving helpers with a savory grilled meal. Similarly, you can host a cookout to get to know new neighbors.

  • Taking advantage of favorable weather to take a walk and explore the neighborhood.

• The project may be completed faster. Because there's a lower volume of houses in Winter, the permits, building, inspections, and scheduling can all take less time.

• Many builders and contractors offer competitive rates during Winter, saving you money on labor and materials.

• With fewer projects going on, builders are more likely to pay more special attention to your home.

• You actually can build in Winter! 

Lately, building technology has been improving, making it easier to build. Builders use prefabricated components, such as timber frames, structural insulated panels, and panelized construction. The best part is that prefab components significantly speed up the building process!

At Straight Edge Builders, we personally frame all the homes we build, ensuring the most solid structure for our clients.

• Winter weather makes building easier in a few ways:

  • Snowy weather makes it simpler to understand how the land behaves during precipitation.

  • The lack of undergrowth and tree foliage provides a better view of the land when searching for and buying a property. Additionally, wetland and drainage issues are more pronounced in the summer.

  • The water from rain and snow helps newly laid gravel compact, creating the perfect base for concrete work.

Our Custom Home Building Process

The custom home building process at Straight Edge Builders starts with a consultation. We'll listen intently as you describe your vision. Then comes the design and planning.

Next, we'll evaluate the scope of work and materials required. Then we'll present you with a proposal outlining the time and investment required. Upon agreeing on a proposal, you'll acquire the necessary funding.

Finally, we'll start scheduling and building!

To schedule a consultation, call Straight Edge Builders at 616-218-5444 or complete our consultation form. We service the West Michigan lakeshore.

Let’s get the ball rolling for 2026!

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