Imagine stepping into a home designed exactly for your family, the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of, the perfect gathering space, the right neighborhood. For families across the Fox Cities, that dream starts with one big question: How long until we can move in?
If you live in the Fox Cities or surrounding areas like Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh, De Pere, Greenville, or Harrison, chances are you’ve seen the growth in new home construction. Many families are choosing to build a custom home rather than buy one because they want a home designed for the way they actually live. At Midwest Design Homes, we’ve been guiding families through this journey for more than 30 years. From our in-house drafting team to our Design Center in Kaukauna, we’ve created a process that’s efficient and enjoyable.
So, how long does it take to build a custom home in the Fox Cities? The short answer: about 9 to 14 months from design to move-in.
Of course, not every build looks the same. Several factors influence a custom construction timeline.
Type of build: A fully custom design typically takes longer, while our pre-designed custom floor plans can fast-track the process.
Lot selection: If you already own land, the process moves faster. If you need help finding a lot, we’ll guide you, but that can add time.
Home size and complexity: Larger or highly customized homes naturally take longer to design and build.
Decision-making: One of the biggest causes of delays isn’t the builder; it’s last-minute changes. The faster selections are made, the smoother the process.
Weather: While we build year-round, certain stages (like foundation work) can be slowed by heavy rain or frozen ground.
Every successful home build begins with a significant planning and design phase. This is where your ideas take shape and become a workable blueprint. Midwest Design Homes makes this step as low-stress as possible. Families start with an initial consultation at our Design Center in Kaukauna, where they can explore finishes, layouts, and design options under one roof. This eliminates the hassle of running to multiple vendors and helps speed up decision-making.
For homeowners who want to move quickly, our pre-designed custom plans provide a tested starting point. These floor plans have already been refined for comfort, efficiency, and flow, and can be personalized with your selections. Choosing this option can cut down the planning time considerably, sometimes to just a few weeks.
For those who prefer a fully custom design, our in-house drafting team will work with you to bring your vision to life. This process usually takes longer because it often requires more revisions, but it gives you complete freedom to create something unique.
Once we finalize your design, the next step is securing permits and financing. In the Fox Cities, the permitting process varies slightly from one municipality to another, but most approvals take between four and eight weeks. Having an experienced builder who understands local requirements helps minimize delays.
Financing also happens during this stage. Midwest Design Homes partners with preferred lenders who offer options like bridge loans (allow you to stay in your current home while new one is being built) and construction loans, making it easier for families to transition from their current home to a new build. These relationships streamline the process and often shorten the time it takes to get approvals.
At Midwest Design Homes, families make their selections at the Design Center in Kaukauna. Having everything in one place means clients don’t have to juggle multiple vendors or drive around town to finalize details. This convenience helps keep the process on schedule.
Because this phase involves many detailed decisions and specialty materials, it’s often where delays can occur. Special orders or late changes in finishes may extend the timeline. However, with thoughtful planning and early choices, interior finishes can progress smoothly and stay within the two-to-three-month window.
With design and permits in place, construction begins at the lot itself. The first stage involves preparing the site. This may include clearing trees, grading the land, and ensuring access to utilities such as water, gas, and electricity. The conditions on your lot will influence the duration and expense at this stage. Excavation follows, setting the groundwork for a solid foundation.
Depending on your design, the foundation could be a basement, crawl space, or slab. In Wisconsin, basements are common, and this stage includes pouring concrete walls and floors, waterproofing, and initial drainage systems.
Weather plays a role in this step. Heavy rain or frozen ground can slow excavation and concrete curing, but it doesn’t halt progress entirely. Midwest Design Homes builds year-round, so even during challenging weather, crews continue moving forward. Every home we build also comes with our Lifetime Dry Basement Guarantee, which means families can have peace of mind knowing their foundation is built to protect against leaks for years to come.
Once the foundation is complete, the home begins to take shape. This stage is often one of the most exciting for homeowners because they can finally see the outline of their future home. Framing includes constructing walls, floors, and roof systems. Windows and exterior doors are installed, followed by roofing. When this stage is finished, the home is considered “under roof,” meaning it is protected from the weather and ready for interior work to begin.
During this phase, we hold weekly site meetings to keep you updated on progress and answer any questions. We also complete a framing walkthrough, where we guide you through the framed structure to review layout, discuss mechanical locations, and ensure everything aligns with your vision before moving on to the next stage.
Exterior finishes such as siding and brickwork may also be added during this time. This is when the house starts to resemble a completed structure from the outside. Because the framing and exterior shell involve multiple crews working in sequence, coordination is key. The efficiency of this step often depends on how smoothly teams move from one task to the next. At Midwest Design Homes, we also emphasize energy efficiency, partnering with Focus on Energy to ensure homes are well insulated and built for long-term savings.
With the framing complete, it’s time to focus on the systems that make a house functional. This phase includes rough-ins for plumbing, electrical wiring, and HVAC installation. Each of these requires specialized crews, and they must work in a coordinated sequence.
During this stage, pipes are laid out for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Electrical wiring runs through the walls and ceilings, setting the stage for outlets, lighting, and appliances. HVAC systems are installed to manage heating, cooling, and ventilation.
Because so many trades overlap here, timing and scheduling are especially important. Any changes requested at this point can cause delays, since adjustments may require rework across multiple systems. Keeping decisions firm and plans finalized helps this step progress smoothly. Once inspections are completed and systems pass code, the home is ready for insulation and drywall.
The interior finishing stage is where your house begins to feel like a home. Plaster goes up, rooms take shape, and finishes are added according to your selections. This includes flooring, cabinetry, countertops, trim, and paint.
By the end of this stage, the home closely matches the vision you had at the start of the journey, with all the personal touches that make it unique to your family.
When the interior work is complete, the focus shifts to the finishing touches. This stage includes installing fixtures, appliances, and hardware. Landscaping or exterior details like driveways and walkways may also be wrapped up during this time.
Before closing, Midwest Design Homes conducts a detailed walkthrough orientation with each homeowner. This is your opportunity to see the completed home, confirm that everything meets your expectations, and note any items that may need final adjustments. We create a punch list and address those details promptly so you can move in with confidence.
And because you have 24/7 access to all approved change orders throughout the build, you can track your investment every step of the way, ensuring no surprises at closing.
Unlike many builders where homeowners struggle to get in touch after move-in, Midwest Design Homes maintains a full office staff and design center. That means you always have a direct line for warranty questions or support. Every home also comes with a one-year builder warranty in addition to the Lifetime Dry Basement Guarantee, giving you confidence in your investment long after the keys are handed over.
While some delays are outside of your control, many parts of the building process can be streamlined with the right preparation. Here are a few practical ways to help keep your custom home project running smoothly.
Finalize your floor plan and selections as early as possible.
Limit changes once construction begins, especially after mechanical systems are installed.
Work with a builder who knows local permitting processes and has strong relationships with suppliers, insured trades, realtors, and construction lenders.
Stay in communication with your project manager and new home sales specialist so you always know what’s coming next.
Choose a plan that fits your budget to avoid delays caused by reworking designs or financing.
Midwest Design Homes uses BuilderTrend software to keep clients updated on progress and selections. This transparency helps everyone stay on the same page and reduces surprises along the way.
Building a custom home in the Fox Cities is a major milestone. With Midwest Design Homes, the journey is smoother thanks to our in-house drafting team, Design Center, and responsive staff. And for those who want to move quickly, our Fast Start Custom Homes can accelerate the process, getting you from permits to digging in as little as two weeks.
If you’re ready to start planning your dream home in Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh, or anywhere in the Fox Cities, browse the homes we’ve built for ideas. Then visit our Design Center in Kaukauna, WI, or reach out today to schedule a consultation with our team.