How Long Does It Take to Build a New Home in Omaha?

Josh Chaffee | Posted on March 22, 2025 |

Building your dream home in Omaha is an exciting journey, but one of the first questions that likely comes to mind is: “How long will it take?” Understanding the timeline helps set realistic expectations and allows for better planning. Let’s break down the process and factors that influence the duration of building a new home in Omaha.

Average Construction Timeline in Omaha When You Build a New Home

The time required to build a new home can vary based on several factors, including design complexity, weather conditions, and material availability. On average, constructing a new home in Nebraska takes approximately 6 to 7 months. However, in Omaha, recent trends indicate that build times have extended to a minimum of 12 months, with many projects taking between 14 to 18 months to complete.

At Charleston Homes, we strive to provide our clients with a reliable timeline. When you sign a Purchase Agreement with us, we provide a 3-week completion window. Sixty days prior to finishing your new home, we will give you the exact completion date, allowing you to plan your move with confidence. Notably, Charleston Homes has never missed a completion date.

Factors Influencing the Build Time

Several elements can impact the construction timeline of your new home:

Design Complexity: Custom designs with unique architectural features may require additional time for planning and execution.
Weather Conditions: Omaha’s seasonal weather variations can affect construction schedules, especially during extreme conditions.
Permit Acquisition: Obtaining necessary permits from the City of Omaha typically takes three to four weeks but could take longer during peak times.
Material Availability: Supply chain issues and material shortages can cause delays, as seen in recent years.
Labor Availability: The local labor market’s condition can influence scheduling and completion times.

Understanding these factors can help you anticipate potential delays in home construction. A good home builder will work proactively to mitigate them.

With a clear grasp of the average timelines and influencing factors, you’re better prepared to embark on your home-building journey. Next, we’ll delve into the specific phases of construction and their respective timeframes, providing you with a comprehensive roadmap from groundbreaking to move-in day.

Before The Build Begins: Time Spent

It’s important to note that before we can begin building your home, all of the agreements, floorplans, customizations, and options selections must take place. Those steps of the home building process look something like this:

Visit and register at our models
Preview appointment at our design studio
Pre-approval with the lender
Price out and lot selection
Selections review appointment
Purchase agreement
Final options selection
Final color selection
Pre-construction meeting

All of the above steps take place before construction ever takes place. Once everyone is on the same page, the real work begins.

Breakdown of Actual Construction Phases

Building your Omaha dream home is a step-by-step process. Knowing exactly what each phase entails—and how long it typically takes—keeps surprises at bay and helps you track your home’s progress.

Here’s a straightforward breakdown of each stage:

Pre-Construction

Before you ever see a shovel hit dirt, there’s some essential groundwork to cover:

Finalizing your home’s design and blueprints.
Securing financing and obtaining city permits.
Setting a detailed construction schedule with your builder.

This phase sets the tone. Taking your time here ensures fewer headaches later, so patience is your best friend.

Site Preparation and Foundation

Once your plans are set, it’s officially go-time. Your lot will get cleared, graded, and prepped for building.

Land clearing and excavation work. (if you work with Charleston Homes, the land will be cleared before contract, but excavation and any proceeding steps will be done after contract)
Laying your home’s foundation—arguably the most critical step for a solid build.

Weather conditions during this phase are crucial, so flexibility is key. Omaha’s unpredictable weather sometimes requires patience, but a strong foundation is worth a short wait.

Framing

Here’s where your home starts to actually look like a home. This phase is exciting because you’ll finally see your vision taking shape.

Structural framing—walls, floors, and roof go up.
Basic outlines of rooms and architectural features become visible.

Regular check-ins with your sales person can help ensure everything is aligning with your expectations.

Exterior Work

Your home is now gaining personality—and protection. Exterior work ensures your home is weather-tight and looking good from the curb:

Installing windows, doors, and roofing.
Completing siding, brickwork, or other exterior finishes.
Landscaping, driveways, and exterior pathways.

At this point, your home starts feeling less like a project and more like your future residence.

Interior Work

Interior work is one of the lengthiest phases because it includes multiple trades coordinating closely:

HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems installed.
Insulation, drywall, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, and painting completed.
Installing appliances, fixtures, lighting, and hardware.

The Final Step

At Charleston Homes, this phase includes giving you a precise completion date 60 days in advance, so you can confidently plan your move-in day when you build a new home.

Tips to Ensure a Smooth and Timely Build

No one likes delays, and luckily, there are plenty of ways to minimize them. Follow these simple tips to keep your build on track:

Choose a Proven Omaha Builder:
Builders like Charleston Homes, known for delivering on their timelines, can save you months of frustration.
Keep Communication Clear and Frequent:
Regular updates with your builder or sales person prevent misunderstandings and quickly solve any unexpected issues.
Expect the Unexpected:
Always factor a small contingency into your timeline for weather delays, material availability, or minor design changes.

Charleston Homes: Patience Pays Off

Building your new Omaha home takes patience—but it’s absolutely worth the wait. With realistic expectations, clear communication, and an experienced builder like Charleston Homes at your side, the journey becomes rewarding rather than stressful.

Ready to build smarter? Charleston Homes offers more than just quality homes—we offer certainty and clarity every step of the way.