Process & approvals
From first phone call to moving back in
A full raise-and-build-in takes seven to eleven months, and about a third of that is approvals. Here’s the whole sequence so there are no surprises.
Site inspection
Design & fixed quote
Soil test & engineering
Approvals
Disconnect & lift
Footings, columns, slab
Can you live in it?
Usually yes for a restump
Three to five days of significant noise and vibration, and you’ll want to take pictures off the walls, but water and power stay on and you can sleep there.
Partly for a lift
You need to move out for the lift itself and the footing works — usually two to four weeks, since services are disconnected and there are no stairs. Many clients move back in once the house is down on its permanent columns, then live upstairs while the lower floor is built out.
Plan for the worst case
Budget for two months of accommodation even if you expect one. Weather, approvals and rock all push timelines, and being able to absorb that without pressure makes the build much less stressful.