Most home buyers have a lot of questions about the construction of their home: How long will it take to build? What happens when? What does each step involve? When can we visit the site and see our home in progress? When do we have to make final decisions about cabinets, fixtures, flooring, and so on? When do building inspections take place? Will we have a chance to inspect it ourselves before we take possession?

Here is an outline of the typical construction process today, based in a single-family home. Bear in mind that this is a generalized description-your home builder may use a different approach. For multi-family buildings and larger condominiums, a different construction process is most often involved, and you should ask about construction timing specific to that development.

The process and schedule will also be affected by the size and style of the house; the lot; the construction techniques used; the amount of customization required; the number of municipal inspections; whether the home is located in a large development; availability of labour, and many other factors. Ask your builder to explain the process for your home.

This guide was originally published on the Canadian Home Builders' Association website.