When I don't have someone on-site even a day, I'm upset.

Are they getting paid?

Yep, builder has his money according to the draw schedule.

It depends. If you are building on the west coast of Florida, all your subs are rebuilding hurricane damage for a lot more money than you were paying. They know there's nothing you can do about it because they're all doing it.

I'm up in Pennsylvania so no hurricane damage. But this has been going on for a few months now and they say it's hard to schedule subs but the house once sat idle for 4.5 weeks waiting to schedule a painter this summer. I feel like scheduling to minimize idle time is part of what I'm paying for.

I admit though, it's my first time going through this so I don't know what's typical or not so I've been trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Your builder may be getting paid, but is he paying HIS subs and suppliers? Find out now, because they can come after you with a lien if not.

I'll have to look into that.

Sounds to me that it isn't usual for the house to sit so idle between subs.

It's been awhile since I built my home - but it never set idle for weeks. My ex husband drove over there almost every day before heading to our rental. It was rare for him to say that nothing had happened (except in the very beginning - it seems like it took the most time to excavate + pour the basement.

I had a project that I stopped by quite often. Every time I stopped by the crew was on a break or having lunch. There was a tremendous amount of work done between my visits but I never saw work being performed.

Typically, no down time between subs. And often multiple trades there at the same time.