In this blog series, I’m going to share what building a custom home looks like from the non-professional’s perspective—the surprises, the lessons learned, and all the little details that no one tells you about until you’re in the thick of it. Come see how the sausage is made!

Part 2: Best Laid Plans

I’m a planner. I live for sticky notes, color-coded highlighters, and beautifully organized charts. So naturally, when Lucas and I started this build, I sat him down and created a detailed Gantt chart for our entire project. Every phase mapped out, every milestone accounted for, buffer time built in for the inevitable hiccups.

You know what they say about best laid plans, right?

Here’s what I didn’t account for: the absolutely staggering amount of follow-up required to get things done. I’m talking phone calls, emails, more phone calls, showing up at supplier locations, and—if I’m being completely honest—a fair amount of begging. Inspections, utility hookups, material orders… everything requires constant checking in.

And here’s the kicker: I can’t seem to give money away.

Let me explain: I requested a quote for a door from a local supplier back in June. It’s now October. That door? Still no quote. The good news is I’ve since ordered all our doors from other suppliers, most have arrived, and they’re ready for installation. Had you told me I can’t give money away six months ago, I’d have asked if you’ve lost your mind.

LESSON: Set realistic expectations around your schedule, then add a few more weeks just to be safe.

Your timeline will get disrupted. You will experience delays. And here’s the frustrating part: many of these delays are completely outside your and your general contractor’s control. No amount of planning, experience, or pestering can force an inspector to show up faster or make a supplier suddenly have inventory in stock.

Now I completely understand why Lucas comes home frustrated some days. He creates schedules to meet his clients’ needs while juggling multiple projects simultaneously. There are few things more aggravating than delays you’re powerless to prevent—especially when you’re the one who has to deliver the bad news to anxious homeowners (or your wife).

By my estimation, we’re running about 4-6 weeks behind my original Gantt chart. But here’s the thing: I still think creating that project plan was absolutely worth it. It helped me understand the massive scope of what goes into building a house, gave me realistic checkpoints to work toward, and—most importantly—showed me what to focus on next as we tick items off the list. Just don’t get too attached to those original dates. Think of your timeline as more of a friendly suggestion than a binding contract.