Every home is unique, and the construction timeline may be affected by a variety of factors, including:

• The size and complexity of the home

• Material availability, supply-chain disruptions, or customer-selected products with extended lead times

• Subcontractor scheduling or labor delays

• Weather-related interruptions

• Delayed invoice payments that result in work being temporarily paused

• Financing delays, including lender requirements that must be satisfied before funds can be released

• Customer-requested changes during construction

• Delays in receiving necessary selections, decisions, or approvals from the customer

We will communicate openly throughout the project and work diligently to anticipate potential delays, address challenges promptly, and keep construction moving forward whenever possible.

The project start date often depends on the customer’s readiness and the completion of several important pre-construction steps. These may include:

• Property survey completed

• Soil testing completed

• Property officially deeded to the customer and recorded with the appropriate local authority

• Home site selected

• House plan finalized

• Project financing secured

• Construction budget approved

Once all required items are complete, groundbreaking can typically begin within 30 days. Before construction starts, the Wilderness Homes team will guide you through the preparation process and help ensure everything is in place for a smooth start.

The honest answer is: maybe.

This is one of the most common questions we receive—and we completely understand why. During construction, many customers are living temporarily with family, in an RV, or in a rental home. Those arrangements can feel cramped, inconvenient, and never-ending. It is only natural to dream about celebrating Christmas, Thanksgiving, a birthday, or the beginning of summer in your new home.

While we can provide an estimated completion timeframe, it is impossible to guarantee an exact move-in date for a custom home. Weather, material availability, inspections, customer changes, and other unforeseen circumstances can affect even the most carefully planned schedule.

We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your desired timeline and keep your project moving forward. At the same time, your home is being built specifically for you, and you have invested a great deal to reach this point. We never want to rush through the final stages or overlook important details simply to meet a symbolic date.

We know the waiting can be difficult, but the goal is not just to finish quickly—it is to deliver a home you will be proud to celebrate many Christmases in.

The short answer is no.

Although we understand the desire to save money or personally contribute to your new home, our experience has shown that customer-performed work often creates scheduling delays, coordination issues, and unexpected costs. Any initial savings can quickly be offset by extended construction-loan interest, repairs, or work that must be corrected before construction can continue.

To protect the quality, safety, efficiency, and integrity of your home, all work must be completed by Wilderness Homes or our approved subcontractors. Work performed by the customer or by an unapproved contractor will also void the Wilderness Homes warranty for the affected area and any related components.

A new home is a significant investment, and it deserves to be built correctly by experienced professionals. By allowing our trusted team to manage every phase of construction, we can maintain our quality standards and deliver the best possible finished home.

The short answer is no.

Wilderness Homes works with a trusted team of subcontractors whose quality, reliability, scheduling, licensing, and insurance requirements have already been carefully evaluated. Using our established team allows us to coordinate each phase efficiently, maintain consistent workmanship, and stand behind the quality of your finished home.

In rare circumstances, we may consider a customer-requested subcontractor. However, that subcontractor must be properly licensed and insured, meet our quality and scheduling standards, and be reviewed and approved by Wilderness Homes before any work begins. Approval is entirely at our discretion and is not guaranteed.

Any work performed by an unapproved subcontractor may cause delays, create additional expenses, and void the warranty for the affected work and any related components.

The short answer is no.

All materials, fixtures, and products installed in your home must be new and purchased through approved suppliers. Used items—as well as returns, auction purchases, clearance items, or products purchased through online marketplaces—frequently arrive damaged, incomplete, in disrepair, or without the necessary documentation and manufacturer support.

While these items may appear to save money initially, missing parts, installation complications, repairs, replacements, and construction delays can ultimately result in additional expense. They may also prevent us from verifying the product’s condition, safety, or proper installation requirements.

For these reasons, customer-supplied used or discounted items will not be installed and may void the builder’s warranty for the affected area and related components. A new home is a significant investment, and we believe it should be built with new, reliable products that allow us to maintain our quality standards and stand behind our work.

You have complete freedom to choose the finishes and products you want for your custom home. However, all purchases must be made through Wilderness Homes.

Managing purchases through our team allows us to document your selections, confirm that products meet project requirements, coordinate ordering and delivery, and accurately track all expenses against your construction budget. If items are purchased independently, those costs may not be reflected in your project reports, making it difficult to provide a complete and accurate budget analysis.

If you find something you love, simply send the product information to us. We will review it for suitability and availability, then coordinate the purchase on your behalf. This ensures you retain control over your design choices while we maintain accurate records and keep your project organized.

No. All changes, requests, and project decisions must be communicated directly to your Wilderness Homes project manager—not to subcontractors working at the jobsite.

Even a change that appears minor can affect your budget, construction schedule, materials, inspections, or other phases of the project. Routing every request through Wilderness Homes allows us to evaluate the full impact of the proposed change, confirm that it fits within the project’s scope and budget, document any associated costs, and coordinate the work properly.

Our subcontractors are not authorized to approve customer-requested changes. If you think of a change while visiting the jobsite, please contact your Wilderness Homes project manager before discussing or directing the work.