From purchasing your lot to moving in, here’s what you need to know about building a custom home in Minnesota. Whether you’ve spent months looking at existing homes that don’t meet your criteria or you’re finally ready to build your dream home, starting the process of building a custom home is an exciting milestone of homeownership. While you’ve been envisioning the layout that works perfectly for your family and the gourmet kitchen you can’t wait to entertain with, you likely haven’t put too much thought into the actual custom home building process. This guide walks you through each step and timeframe of building a custom home—from purchasing your lot and designing your spaces to navigating construction phases and moving in.
What are the types of home construction?
As you’ve been researching the custom home building process, you’ve likely come across different types of home construction with varying levels of customization. When it comes to custom homes, you typically have two options:
Fully custom Custom builds, which are the focus of this article, offer the most customization, with floor plans and design choices reflecting the unique needs and style of an individual homeowner. Homeowners can purchase any plot of land and hire a builder to bring their vision to life, or select a lot already owned by a builder they want to work with to develop their custom home. If you opt to build on your own land, there may be additional costs and considerations, such as soil conditions, zoning and setback requirements, and utility access. City Homes can help with all of that. You don’t need to do it alone.
Semi-custom Semi-custom homes are the perfect middle ground for people who don’t want to build a fully custom home nor purchase a cookie-cutter new build. With this type of home construction, homeowners are often able to select their floor plan, finishes, materials, and appliances from a portfolio offered by their builder, with costs fluctuating between standard and luxury options. 
How much does it cost to build a custom house in Minnesota?
The cost to build a custom home in Minnesota varies depending on the location of your lot, the complexity of your design, and the quality of the building materials among many others. It’s good to determine a rough budget before hiring your builder.
What is the process of building a custom home?
Every builder has unique aspects to their process, but in general, there are five stages of building a house:
1. Pre-construction planning Just as important as the construction phases of building a custom home, the planning phase lays the groundwork for the entire process and experience.
- Design your floor plan and select materials. This is the stage where you get to customize your home to your exact specifications. A good builder will help you find the perfect architect and interior designer for your project.
- Finalize budget and secure financing. After making your design and material allowance choices, your builder gives you a more sworn construction statement, which allows you to secure a construction loan.
- Pull permits. Your builder submits detailed plans for your new build to your city or county for approval so construction can begin.
Timeline: 2-6 months
2. Site preparation and foundation Prepping the site by clearing and grading the land is a crucial step for creating a stable foundation for your home.
- Prepare the land. Trees, roots, and other debris are removed from the site, and a level surface is created to prep the land for construction. Proper grading ensures effective drainage, preventing erosion and flooding.
- Excavate for the foundation. Soil is dug up below the frost line to make space for the foundation of your home.
- Pour footings and foundation. Concrete footings are set deep into the ground to create support for the foundation.
Timeline: 2-4 weeks, though this also depends on the weather
3. Framing and roofing During the framing of a house, the blueprints you pored over for months during the pre-construction phase start to take shape.
- Frame the home. The structural skeleton of your home takes shape as the walls, floors, and roof are constructed with wood studs, joists, and rafters.
- Add exterior sheathing and roofing. Plywood boards cover the exterior walls and roof, essentially forming the “shell” of your home. The roof is finished with a waterproof underlayment and the covering you chose, such as shingles.
- Install windows and doors to close in the space.
- Apply house wrap. This protective barrier is applied over sheathing to both protect your home from moisture and allow interior water vapor to escape.
Timeline: 1-2 months 
4. Mechanical rough-ins The mechanical rough-in phase preps your home with all the systems it needs to run day-to-day, including:
- HVAC: Ductwork, vents, refrigerant lines
- Electrical: Panels and subpanels, wiring, cables, electrical boxes
- Plumbing: Hot and cold water pipes, drain lines, valves, gas lines
- Smart home technology: Internet cables, security systems
Each system is inspected and given a seal of approval before walls are closed up with insulation and drywall. Timeline: 1-3 months 5. Finishing In the finishing phase, your new build transforms from a construction site into a home.
- Install insulation. Your builder uses a mix of fiberglass, cellulose, and spray foam to insulate the walls, floors, and attic, ensuring your home stays comfortable in Minnesota’s climate.
- Hang drywall. Walls are closed up with drywall and covered with joint compound to prepare for painting.
- Complete interior finishes. The design choices you have carefully selected come to life as cabinets and countertops are installed, flooring is laid, walls are painted, and fixtures are placed.
- Install siding. While the interior finishes are completed, crews also work on the outside of the home, installing siding, gutters, landscaping, and the driveway.
- Connect appliances. Appliances like refrigerators, built-in microwaves, ovens, and dishwashers are typically installed in the final week or two of the projects.
Timeline: 3-4 months
What happens after house construction has finished?
We understand how tempting it is to start unpacking and furniture shopping as soon as the final nail is hammered, but before you can officially take ownership of your new custom home, an inspection is conducted to issue a certificate of occupancy, which lenders require for closing. Your builder also does a final walkthrough with you to show you the home’s features, explain maintenance and upkeep, and address any last issues before move-in.
