The Stages of Building a House – From Concept to Completion

Building a dream home is always exciting, but complicated. To avoid time delay and budget leaks, you need to know the exact stages of building a house. However, I am presenting you with a step-by-step process for house construction in 2025, so you won’t find it difficult.

Just go through the whole article.

Stage 1: Brief & Budget

At the very beginning, decide how many floors, rooms, and other features you want in your building. Then, set a realistic budget based on your demand.

Within Dhaka, most buildings cost around 500-5,000 BDT, depending on the land price, finishes, and payments of professionals. You might also need to consider an additional budget of 10-15% more for contingency and permit costs.

Stage 2: Planning Permit & Land Use Clearance (LUC)

If your land is under RAJUK jurisdiction, you will have to secure the LUC at BDT 1,000 + 15% VAT for 24 months. Land Use Clearance (LUC) is now part of the planning and permit workflow.

When getting a permit, keep the proof of application and be ready for any kind of uncertainty. According to The Daily Star, in August 2025, due to ECPS disruptions, online approvals were delayed unexpectedly.

Stage 3: Hiring Architect & Engineer

In this stage, you need to hire RAJUK-registered professionals who have an excellent understanding of BNBC 2020 requirements. Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) implies earthquake, fire, and safety rules. (Source: BNBC 2020 PDF

Stage 4: Approvals & Permits

Collaborate with your architects to get permits and legal approvals. Generally, most architects submit plans via RAJUK’s ECPS to get construction permits. If any interruptions cause delays, ask your architect about the manual submission option.

If you are going to start a large project, you will need additional NOCs (for fire, water, and the environment).

Stage 5: Tendering and Contracts

At this stage, make at least several bids to compare the costs and quality. You can also use your architect’s references to get a contractor at a good deal.

You should set a milestone for the payments, including a defect-liability period. To maintain your financial security, don’t pay a large amount up front.

Stage 6: Construction

After making a deal with your contractor, it’s time to start the construction. It is certain that if the approval stalls, delays will take place. So, get assistance from your architect to avoid any miscalculation, which might cause budget leaks.

The typical sequence of construction: site preparation → columns → beams → slabs → walls → finishes → other tasks.

Stage 7: Completion & Occupancy Certificate (OC)

After finishing the construction work, ask your supervising professional to file a report of completion. Then, apply for the OC (Occupancy Certificate). If you still find it difficult, ask your architect for help again. It’s always better to ask before making a mistake. It is worth saying that each mistake will cost a huge amount of money.

To know how to get your OC, click here.

Practical Checklist

Here is a recap, so you don’t make these mistakes when building your dream home.

• Research your architect before hiring. Ensure that your architect is RAJUK-registered and well aware of BNBC rules. You can also check the portfolios to get a clear picture of what your architect is capable of.
• Don’t buy all the materials before getting a permit.
• Be prepared with a 10-15% contingency for price increase.
• Prepare a milestone-based payment for your contractor.
• Make several bids for different contractors and pick the most suitable one.

Shortnotes for Owners Outside Dhaka

If your plot is outside the RAJUK jurisdiction area, maintain the city corporation, which follows BNBC 2020 and local rules. The process is similar. You need to get a local permit, additionally.

Final Words

Choosing the right architect, interior designer, exterior designer, or contractor is the biggest risk today. If it goes wrong, it will make you suffer in the long run. Don’t worry! We are here to help.

Archiconnect is a platform aiming to build your connection with professionals you actually need. Get 3 verified quotes for free, and find out what will be best depending on your demand.