A realistic timeline from concept to moving in
You’ve found the land. You’ve saved the money. You have sketches and dreams.
Now the question that every homeowner asks: How long will this actually take?
The honest answer? Longer than you hope. Shorter than you fear—if you do it right.
This guide breaks down the realistic timeline for building a custom home in Nairobi, phase by phase. No sugar-coating. No sales pitch. Just the facts you need to plan.
The Short Answer
For a typical 3-4 bedroom custom home in Nairobi:
| Phase | Duration |
|---|---|
| Design & approvals | 4-8 months |
| Construction | 12-18 months |
| Finishing & handover | 1-2 months |
| Total | 18-28 months |
From first client meeting to handing over the keys.
For a larger home (5+ bedrooms, high-end finishes): 24-36 months
For a simple developer house (replicated design): 8-12 months
Phase 1: Design & Approvals (4-8 Months)
This phase happens entirely before any construction begins. Rushing it guarantees problems later.
Step 1: Brief & Site Analysis (2-4 weeks)
Your architect visits your site, discusses your requirements, and develops an initial brief.
What happens:
- Site survey and analysis
- Discussion of rooms, layout, style
- Initial budget discussion
- Feasibility assessment
Deliverable: A clear project brief and initial concept directions.
Step 2: Concept Design (4-8 weeks)
The fun part. Your architect translates your brief into initial sketches and layouts.
What happens:
- Floor plan options developed
- Preliminary elevations and sections
- Initial 3D visuals
- Client feedback and iterations
- Material and finish discussions
Deliverable: Approved concept design with floor plans and exterior visuals.
Step 3: Detailed Design & Technical Drawings (6-12 weeks)
The concept becomes a building that can actually be constructed.
What happens:
- Detailed floor plans, elevations, sections
- Structural engineering design
- MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) design
- Material specifications
- Window and door schedules
- Kitchen and joinery details
Deliverable: Full set of construction drawings and specifications.
Step 4: Approvals (8-16 weeks)
This is where timelines stretch. Government approvals move at their own pace.
What happens:
- County building permit application
- NEMA approval (if required)
- NCA project registration
- Utility provider approvals
- Addressing any plan queries
Deliverable: Approved stamped drawings and all regulatory clearances.
Pro tip: Factor in delays. Approvals rarely finish as fast as hoped.
Phase 2: Tender & Contractor Selection (4-8 Weeks)
With approved drawings, you’re ready to find a builder.
What happens:
- Tender documents prepared
- Invitations to qualified contractors
- Bid review and analysis
- Contractor interviews
- Contract negotiation and signing
If using an integrated design-build team: This phase is greatly simplified or eliminated—you already have your builder.
Phase 3: Construction (12-18 Months)
This is where your home rises from the ground. The timeline varies significantly based on size, complexity, and weather.
Stage 1: Site Setup & Groundworks (4-8 weeks)
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Site clearance and setup | 1-2 weeks |
| Setting out (marking building position) | 3-5 days |
| Excavation | 2-4 weeks |
| Foundation concrete | 2-3 weeks |
| Foundation curing | 2 weeks |
Total: 4-8 weeks
Stage 2: Structure (16-24 weeks)
The skeleton of your home.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Ground floor slab | 2-3 weeks |
| Ground floor walls and columns | 4-6 weeks |
| First floor slab | 3-4 weeks |
| First floor walls | 4-6 weeks |
| Roof structure | 3-4 weeks |
| Roof covering | 2-3 weeks |
Total: 16-24 weeks (4-6 months)
Stage 3: External Works & First Fix (8-12 weeks)
The building becomes watertight, and services begin.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Windows and external doors | 2-3 weeks |
| Rough electrical (conduits, wiring) | 3-4 weeks |
| Rough plumbing (drains, pipes) | 3-4 weeks |
| External plastering | 3-4 weeks |
Total: 8-12 weeks (2-3 months)
Stage 4: Second Fix & Finishes (12-16 weeks)
The home takes shape.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Internal plastering | 3-4 weeks |
| Floor screeds | 2-3 weeks |
| Tiling | 3-4 weeks |
| Kitchen installation | 2-3 weeks |
| Sanitary ware (toilets, basins) | 2-3 weeks |
| Painting (internal) | 3-4 weeks |
| Light fittings and switches | 1-2 weeks |
| Wardrobes and joinery | 3-4 weeks |
Total: 12-16 weeks (3-4 months)
Stage 5: External Finishes (4-8 weeks)
The outside matches the inside.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| External painting | 2-3 weeks |
| Driveways and parking | 2-3 weeks |
| Landscaping | 2-4 weeks |
| Boundary walls and gates | 2-3 weeks |
Total: 4-8 weeks (1-2 months)
Phase 4: Final Inspections & Handover (4-8 Weeks)
The home is built. Now it must be certified and handed over.
What happens:
- County final inspection
- Certificate of Occupation issued
- Snagging (identifying and fixing minor defects)
- Client walkthrough and training (systems operation)
- Final handover and keys
Total: 4-8 weeks
Summary Timeline: 4-Bedroom Custom Home
| Phase | Duration |
|---|---|
| Design & Approvals | 6 months |
| Tender & Contractor | 1 month |
| Construction | 15 months |
| Handover | 1 month |
| Total | 23 months |
Just under two years from start to keys.
What Causes Delays?
Design Phase Delays
| Cause | Impact |
|---|---|
| Client indecision | Weeks to months |
| Multiple design changes | Weeks |
| Slow approval process | 1-3 months extra |
| Unregistered professionals (drawings rejected) | 2-4 months |
Construction Phase Delays
| Cause | Impact |
|---|---|
| Rainy season (especially April-May, October-November) | 1-2 weeks per heavy rain event |
| Material shortages | 2-6 weeks |
| Late payments to contractor | Work stops |
| Variations (changes during construction) | 2-8 weeks |
| Unskilled labour (rework needed) | Weeks |
| Poor site supervision | Cumulative delays |
The Biggest Delay Factor: Fragmentation
When architect, engineers, and contractor are separate:
- Design omissions discovered on site require redesign
- Contractor waits for architect instructions
- Disputes stop work
- Client becomes referee
Integrated design-build eliminates most of these delays.
How to Build Faster
1. Decide Before You Design
Every change during construction costs time and money. The more decisions you make during design—finishes, fittings, layouts—the faster construction flows.
Do this: Choose tiles, sanitaryware, kitchen finishes before construction starts, not during.
2. Use an Integrated Team
When design and construction are separate, you build sequentially: design finishes, then tender, then build.
When they’re integrated, design and construction overlap. The team starts site work while detailed drawings continue for upper floors.
Savings: 20-30% faster overall.
3. Pay on Time
Contractors slow down when payments are late. They have other projects waiting. A delayed payment can stop your site for weeks.
Do this: Honor the payment schedule. If cash flow is tight, discuss it early.
4. Order Long-Lead Items Early
Some items take months to arrive:
- Imported tiles
- Specialty fixtures
- Custom joinery (if made off-site)
- Windows (if manufactured)
Do this: Identify long-lead items during design and order them early.
5. Plan for Rain
Nairobi’s heavy rains (April-May, October-November) can halt excavation and external works.
Do this: Schedule foundation and structure to avoid peak rain months. Plan internal works during rainy periods.
Realistic Expectations: What Clients Don’t Know
“We’ll move in by December”
If you start design in January, you will not move in that December. Construction alone takes 12-18 months.
Reality check: For a December move-in, start design 2 years earlier.
“It’s just a simple house”
Every house is complex. Hundreds of decisions. Thousands of components. Dozens of tradespeople. Simple still takes time.
“The contractor said 8 months”
Contractors often quote optimistic timelines to win jobs. Ask for their last three projects’ actual completion dates vs promised.
“We can design as we build”
This guarantees delays, variations, and stress. Design should be substantially complete before construction starts.
What Real Projects Took
| Project | Size | Actual Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maono Residence, Karen | 450 sqm | 22 months |
| Private Villa, Limuru | 380 sqm | 19 months |
| Townhouse, Runda | 280 sqm | 16 months |
| Extension, Lavington | 120 sqm | 9 months |
All delivered by AFRIK DESIGN & ENGINEERING’s integrated team.
How AFRIK DESIGN & ENGINEERING Delivers on Time
Our integrated model addresses every major cause of delay:
| Delay Cause | Our Solution |
|---|---|
| Design omissions | BIM coordination catches clashes before site |
| Slow approvals | We manage the entire submission process |
| Contractor coordination | One team, one plan |
| Material delays | Early ordering, proactive procurement |
| Rain disruption | Smart scheduling |
| Late payments | Clear schedules, early communication |
| Client indecision | Guided decision-making during design |
Result: Our projects consistently finish on time—or earlier—with fewer variations and less stress.
Your Realistic Timeline Planner
Use this to plan your project:
| Milestone | Target Date |
|---|---|
| First architect meeting | [ ] |
| Design complete | +4-6 months |
| Approvals received | +2-4 months |
| Construction starts | +1 month |
| Structure complete | +6-8 months |
| Finishes complete | +4-6 months |
| Handover | +2 months |
| Move in | [Total: 19-27 months from start] |
Ready to Start?
Building a home is a marathon, not a sprint. But with realistic expectations and the right team, it’s a journey you’ll enjoy—not endure.
Let’s discuss your timeline and how we can deliver your dream home efficiently, beautifully, and on schedule.
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AFRIK DESIGN & ENGINEERING
📞 +254 708 155 714 | +254 731 783 091
📧 info@afrikdesignengineering.com
📍 Limuru Rd, Peak Villa, Ruaka, Kenya