March 6 arrives. No plan. No updates. I email the builder asking (reminding) him to make sure our lot is available/reserved. Instant response, they have it reserved, ask for a guesstimate eta on plans: "I think John Doe is pretty close, finished up 2 others today. I will check and get an eta". No eta...

March 20 arrives. No plan. No updates. I text architect again for an update: "We were just talking about you today.....I promise I will get back on it very soon." Come on man.

March 28 arrives. No plan. No updates. I email builder asking for an update of how things are coming along. No response. BUT 5:30 that evening the first rendition of the 1st floor (house will be 2 story) shows up in my email!

We take no chances in falling to last in line, so my wife and I spend all evening on March 28 coming up with our comments/revisions we want made, I email architect morning of March 29 asking if we can meet to discuss the changes. Meet right before lunch, and 5:45 that evening, plans are corrected and perfect. I send my "thumbs up" approval for the 1st floor the morning of March 30 and am told, "ok GREAT!!!! I'll get to work on the 2nd floor ;)"

April 11 arrives. No 2nd story plan. No updates. I text architect asking for an update: "I'm finishing up a VERY time consuming plan today.....printing now & you are next in line!!!!"

April 19 arrives. No 2nd story plan. No updates. I email the builder asking for an ACTUAL timeline of the build process as a whole. What looked like (maybe wishful thinking) a late Fall 2017 move in date, now looks like early 2018. Builder responds with timeline information, apologizes about delay, says how great 1st floor looks, and copies architect on email to get an update on 2nd story. No update.

April 22 arrives. No 2nd story plan. No updates. BUT Builder posts on Facebook about the 5 new custom homes and spec homes they are committed to (in a development that this builder bought out the lots and NOT the same development we want to build in). Red-headed stepchild feeling. Sigh.

Please tell me: 1) I'm impatient, delusional, unrealistic, and need to back off. 2) I'm justified in feeling extremely frustrated. IF YOU DIDNT HAVE TIME FOR OUR BUSINESS, JUST TELL US.

If it has taken this long, you may need to find someone else. Although you have already selected the lot, haven't you?

I feel your pain. We are building too and find that we are spending a lot of time waiting...

Unprofessional behavior- yet it seems to be the norm in residential construction. Patience is required- but in the end, we'll end up with beautiful homes! Best of luck to you.

I also feel your pain. I broke ground on my house over a year ago now and I still have another ~4 months to go, if I'm lucky. They originally told me it would be completed in 6 months. Managing communication with the builder while discovering, reporting, tracking issues has been a time-consuming part-time job.

There will be a lot of ups and downs and periods where it seems like nothing is happening. And everything will take longer than you expect. Mistakes will be made. Communication will be poor. Building a home is not for the faint of heart.

Get a good phase inspector and visit the site often. And when things get stressful, remember that it will all be worth it in the end.

gidmayfield, Please forgive me if you stated this in your opening but just to be clear, you've:
A. Bought and paid for a lot in a new development.
B. Contracted with the one and only architect responsible for drawing custom home plans for the development.
C. Except for a first floor draft you've tweeked and agreed to, you've been, excuse the language, but you've been dicked around by the architect.
Am I understanding what you've written so far?
You're not overreacting as far as you were promised you'd have an "architect drawn" house plan modeled after a rough draft you submitted. You were told to expect the plans within a timely manner. Instead, you've been handed excuse after excuse as to why the plans are delayed. If you're not contracted I'd have a heart to heart with both builder and architect. Perhaps they're putting contracted clients ahead of you? If you have contracted with them you must state your frustrations in writing.
If y'all aren't committed (Contracted), you(or they)can walk @anytime.
Please keep us posted.

Spec house developer with a half-ass draftsman, no architect for sure.

There are almost always delays when building or remodeling. Often things beyond the builders control such as material mishaps or delays. The timeline that you have shared doesn't seem typical however. Perhaps considering an alternative architect would be a good option.

The waiting is endless --- our General Contractor is so wrapped up with other remodels and projects, while my home build project is ignored. He said if it never starts (break ground) he has a long list of fees waiting for me. If he builds the simple home he earns $55k -- if he blows us off and never breaks ground he has thousands and thousands ($7k+) of dollars for fees he said he made phone calls, printing, etc (to not build the house). Imagine that big payday for never lifting a hammer!!! The lot is empty.... not one sub contractor has done any work.... No ground work, no foundation --- not one single shovel full of dirt has been moved moved!!! What a rip off. For months I have stood there looking at an empty lot. I am out a lot of money. Each week I hope we can get started but --- when I call he says he will check his schedule when he gets home from his little projects.

He had good reviews and for a quick tile job or remodel he may be okay, but to build a home --- he has been a disappointment.

I honestly question he train of thought or end game plan. He wants to take my family to the cleaners.

He has a great poker game face.... The nice guy look, but is he a worker?

He filed for the permit as Gen Contractor -- big mistake, if he fails to do this I would need my name on the permit to continue.

This is a rip off -- a real shame and a sin.