How Long Does it Take to Build a Custom Home in Bend, OR?
Right after "how much does it cost?" comes "how long will it take?" Great question—and one we're always happy to walk through. Here's a realistic look at the timeline.
The Short Answer
Most high-end custom homes take 18 to 22 months to build, from breaking ground to move-in.
This timeline reflects the reality of building a bespoke home with complex details and high-performance systems. While production homes can be built faster, a true custom project requires a different pace.
Some take longer. A few go faster. It depends on size, complexity, site conditions, and how the project unfolds along the way.
But construction is only part of the journey. By the time we're pouring the foundation, months of planning and collaboration have already happened—and honestly, that's some of the most exciting work we do together.
Before Construction: Design & Pre-Construction (6–12 months)
This is where your home starts to take shape—on paper first, then in reality. It includes:
Schematic design — Working with your architect to develop the initial concept and floor plan. Big-picture dreaming.
Design development — Refining the design, selecting major materials, locking in structural and mechanical systems. The details start to click into place.
Permitting — Submitting plans for review. In the City of Bend or Deschutes County, plan for 4 to 12 weeks depending on jurisdiction and time of year.
Budgeting and bidding — Developing detailed estimates, gathering subcontractor pricing, aligning design with budget. We work through this together so there are no surprises—you can read more in our 2026 Custom Home Cost Guide.
It's tempting to rush this phase to "get started faster," but taking the time here pays off. The more resolved the design and budget are before construction, the smoother—and more enjoyable—the build.
Construction: What Happens When
Once permits are in hand, the real fun begins. Construction typically follows this sequence:
Site Work & Foundation (2–3 months) Excavation, utilities, foundation, waterproofing, backfill. Weather matters—winter pours require extra precautions. There's something special about seeing that first concrete in the ground.
Framing (5–6 months) Walls, floors, roof. The house starts to feel real. This is when you'll walk the site with us to confirm outlet locations, blocking, and anything that gets buried in walls. It's one of our favorite phases—watching the structure come to life.
Mechanicals / Rough-Ins (2–3 months) Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, low-voltage. Inspections happen at each stage. Not the glamorous stuff, but critical to how your home lives.
Insulation & Drywall (1.5–2 months) Insulation goes in, drywall gets hung, taped, and finished. The house gets quieter—and suddenly feels like interior space. You can really start to picture living there.
Finishes (6–7 months) The long tail: cabinetry, tile, countertops, trim, paint, flooring, fixtures, appliances. A carefully sequenced dance of trades—and where all those finish selections come together. This is when the personality of your home really shows up.
Final Details & Punch List (1–1.5 months) Touch-ups, final inspections, cleaning, landscaping. We don't consider a home done until everything is right—and until you're thrilled with the result.
What Affects the Timeline?
Things that help:
A fully resolved design before permitting
Good communication between everyone involved
Clear expectations on both sides
A spirit of collaboration (which we love)
Things that can slow things down:
Scope changes mid-build
Permit or inspection backlogs
Long lead times on windows, appliances, or custom items
Weather
We build detailed schedules and track progress weekly. But custom homes aren't widgets—surprises happen. When they do, we talk through it together and figure out the best path forward. That's how we work.
A Note on Selections
There are a lot of decisions to make during a custom home build—tile, lighting, plumbing fixtures, appliances, hardware. It can feel like a lot, and that's completely normal.
Interior designers are a crucial part of the design/build team. They put together the finish schedule, guide selections, and help bring your vision together. It's a collaborative process, and we love working alongside them. If you or your designer ever want input on lead times, install details, or how something will work in the field, we're always happy to share what we know.
What "On Time" Really Means
We're proud of our track record for delivering homes on schedule. But "on time" means hitting a target we set together based on real information—not a guess made before design was done.
Early on, we give you a rough timeline range. Once the design is final and permits are in, we build a detailed schedule with milestones you can track. We update it regularly and share it with you—because we're in this together.
The Bottom Line
Plan for 18 to 22 months of construction, plus 6 to 12 months of design and pre-construction. A typical custom home Central Oregon is a 2- to 3-year process from first meeting to move-in.
It's a commitment—but it's also an incredible experience. We love what we do, and we love helping people bring their vision to life. If you're thinking about building, we'd love to hear about your project.
Copperline Homes has been building custom homes in Bend and Central Oregon since 2004. We specialize in high-end custom homes built on relationships, intention, diligence, and innovation.