Advantages and disadvantages of different ventilation systems

By the way, it would be nice if the questioners would participate in the discussion again. I find the "burn and run" questioners, who disappear shortly after posting their question, just as frustrating as those who start whining "doesn’t anyone really have an opinion?" after two hours.

Which I hereby gladly do. I posted yesterday before work and honestly didn’t check back all day because it was quite stressful and, to be honest, I also didn’t expect so many posts to come in within 24 hours. So it was by no means meant badly. But fair enough, I understand the criticism.

Thanks for the numerous contributions, some of which are really very informative! The discussion at is also interesting. Thanks for the tip.

Since it has already been pointed out quite clearly in several places here that we are apparently completely clueless: Yes, that is certainly the case. We have no experience with building or real estate in general and both have completely different professions. Our original idea was therefore to buy an existing property. However, after a longer search we have not found anything that suited us yet and at the same time the possibility arose that we could buy a piece of land from a family member, so building then became an option after all.

Oops, ouch. What an embarrassing mistake when reading quickly. The "small" before difference even needs quotation marks. Accordingly, I also have to ...
... relativize my earlier praise ...
... in that the OP are even more in need of support as beginners than I feared earlier.

Okay, then enlighten me what is so completely nonsensical about our approach so that we can do better. Purely in terms of budget, building is only possible for us with the inexpensive providers. There just isn’t the money for Viebrockhaus and co. We have therefore picked out three relatively large and affordable providers and compared their offers to get an impression of what you get for the money. We considered wood and brick and (at least from my perception) chose companies from the same price segment. From my (beginner’s) perspective that seemed sensible. But I’m happy to be enlightened about what I can do better.
As mentioned, there is a plot of land but no planning of the house. We simply have no special ideas and have so far found floor plans with every provider that would work well for us. We have no ambitions to build our "dream house," or special requirements for kitchen, bathroom or the like. We are quite pragmatic and just want affordable living space with a bit of garden for the dog. From what I have read, among other things, in this forum, it seemed to me that with Danwood, Scanhaus Marlow and Heinz von Heiden you get exactly that. Maybe you can specify why you think we are wrong with that?

We have no experience whatsoever with building or real estate [...] Our original idea was therefore to buy an existing property.

For someone clueless about building, an existing property is only better if it is not significantly older than fifteen years, so that you can limit yourself to wallpapering work and do not need to touch the structure.

As mentioned, there is a plot of land, but no house plan. We simply have no special ideas and have so far found floor plans from every provider that would work well for us. We just have no ambitions to build our "dream house," or special requirements for kitchen, bathroom, or the like. We are quite pragmatic and simply want affordable living space with a piece of garden for the dog. From what I have read, among other things, in this forum, it seemed to me that you would get exactly that from , Scanhaus Marlow and Heinz von Heiden. Maybe you can specify why, from your point of view, we are wrong about that?

Great that there is already a plot of land. Then please also follow my suggestion to introduce it with a completed questionnaire in the first post of a new thread. Again, great if you are open to tried-and-tested building proposals (catalog houses or the like) from the respective provider. However, to "get exactly that," I still see you more at Town & Country than at Heinz von Heiden; and if you ask me, also Scanhaus Marlow.

Ok, then enlighten me on what is completely nonsensical about our approach so we can do it better. Purely budget-wise, building is only possible for us with the cheaper providers. For and co., the money simply is not there. We have therefore selected three relatively large and inexpensive providers and compared their offers to get an impression of what you get for your money with each. We considered wood and stone and (at least from my impression) chose companies from the same price segment. From my (beginner’s) perspective, that seemed sensible. But I am happy to be enlightened on what I can do better.

Viebrockhaus is probably only for those privately insured – but: whoever belongs to the Viebrockhaus target group finds his Viebrockhaus significantly cheaper at Viebrockhaus than pimping a Town & Country accordingly. "Big names" unfortunately often mean "marketing first" and usually have legal departments that can strip the supposed king customer of a crown faster than he can say "yes, but...". Normal consumer Ottilie and her co-builder (with the stonemasons) find owner-managed regional companies better on equal footing. With the big newspaper ads / top search engine hits, it is best to follow Iulius Caesar’s motto: "laugh, file it away, move on." At least with those who quote the "oh look, we could even afford that" price on a "just exactly the right example house." Because that is the "you are practically already at the goal on our bait trail" victim funnel.

Not committing to wood or stone absolutely corresponds to the approach I recommend. However, I always advise starting from the concrete plot with an independent architect to tackle "Module A" of my "House building roadmap, also for you: the phase model according to HOAI!" and to define the home on the concept level up to the preliminary design stage. That way, you can make decisions during the "proofing period," and if necessary, also already submit a building preliminary request (or have one submitted). This way you keep the reins instead of salespeople misusing their (often not even genuine) expert knowledge advantage to turn laypeople into victims. With the result of the decision-making (I explain here and on "Building now" how to get there), you are smarter in whether you develop the concept (= preliminary design) with the architect in wood or stone in your case, or whether you should adapt a "response to question 2 building proposal" (or even continue with the "architect" of a provider). The key difference between builder and "building purchasing subject" is that you only get advice from experts who do not have sales interests.

So, now the evening sun is calling me away from my desk – you’ve got homework ;-)

Well, the evening sun is now tempting me away from the desk - you have homework ;-)

Thanks for the detailed explanations! We'll get started on the questionnaire :)

This is exactly the "if you're on our bait trail, you're practically already at the goal" victim funnel.

For understanding: where exactly is the main problem with companies like Heinz von Heiden or Danwood? Are there any hidden cost traps so that it ends up being significantly more expensive afterwards than in the offer? Or are many defects simply produced which then cannot be fixed without a lot of stress?

To "get exactly that," I would rather see you at than at Heinz von Heiden; and if you want, also at .

What makes these providers fairer or better than Heinz von Heiden and Danwood?

To understand: where exactly is the main problem with companies like Heinz von Heiden or Danwood? Are any cost traps hidden so that it becomes significantly more expensive afterward than in the offer? Or are simply many defects produced that are then not fixed without great stress?

The cost trap is always the same and lies in the rarely sufficient thirty included centimeters of site preparation. Otherwise, nothing is "hidden": what is not stated is not included, and "bauseits" must simply be translated as "extra / to be procured by oneself." The big names are not particularly prone to defects, but risks to profit from complaints are legally defended very skillfully, whereas family-run construction companies living from their regional reputation prefer amicable solutions.

What makes these providers fairer or better than Heinz von Heiden and Danwood?

According to your description, you fit Town & Country perfectly (although I would probably prefer the regional general contractor) and thus better than Heinz von Heiden. Whether you consider Danwood comparable to Scanhaus Marlow, I don't have to argue with you about that. At the moment, it is only about horseplay without touching. The most important thing is first and foremost the absolute erection failure at the signing pen, no matter which cumbersome weekend new prices are waved around. Take your time to run through Module A and the dough rest with the switch setting.

Since it has already been quite clearly noted in several places here that we are apparently completely clueless: Yes, that is certainly the case. We have no experience with building or real estate in general and both of us do something completely different professionally.

That is not a problem and very many people are in the same situation. You are currently gathering information, and that is the right step. The most important thing is that you don’t let yourselves be rushed, as describes in his inimitably flowery style.

Are there any hidden cost traps, so that in the end it becomes significantly more expensive than in the offer?

The worst cost traps from my point of view: 1. Ignorance about what you really want – even if you then have an inexpensive and smooth construction, you might still buy the wrong thing. 2. Unclear priorities. Lack of discipline with the wishes and fixating on some details costs a lot of money in the total sum. 3. Incomplete calculation – it is important to be clear about what the offer DOES NOT include and is still necessary for the success of the project. You can check the completeness of your calculation quite well here. There are people who will even read the building description with you to find such “gaps.” Of course, you make the decision yourself. 4. Unclear communication. Certainly, you don’t have full control over the building partner, but your own communication behavior can contribute to creating clarity. The written formula “I understood you to mean that ...” or more strongly indirect speech “You informed me that (quote)” combined with the request for correction “If I misunderstood or misrepresented something, please correct me” creates a stable paper trail that ensures a clean preliminary situation, on the basis of which it is harder to argue. You can already practice at home that anyone who says “I assumed that” has to put 5 in a pot. This attitude is expensive in construction. Better to let it go beforehand if it has already crept into everyday life. 5. Emotionality at the wrong time on the part of the client – anyone who tends to get angry and then gets caught up in “How could that happen,” “Who is to blame,” and “How could you” etc., easily loses sight of the goal to solve the situation because they are too busy with the confrontation itself. Resistance is built up that is completely pointless. And if someday the client and the construction service provider “can’t stand each other anymore,” it becomes expensive and the quality suffers under “service strictly according to the rules.” 6. Items with “unit price” in connection with incorrect quantity estimation. Particularly relevant for earthworks. Here a “buffer” in the calculation helps. Defects are remedied within the scope of the contract. What constitutes a defect or not is discussed with varying degrees of “robustness.” No construction runs with the perfection you know from a CNC milling machine. It is good to focus on the essentials here. You as the client have a lot in your own hands, even if you are not a professional. If you keep your composure, you will be able to build a good house at a reasonable price with every construction partner you have named.

3. Incomplete calculation - It is important to be clear about what the offer does NOT include

... or seemingly includes, but in reality is completely worthless (like my example of the ground preparation included up to the first digging depth). The "30 cm" is psychology (for men this magic word switches off the brain area responsible for doubting information). In real construction terrain, a 30 cm height difference over, for example, 12 m ridge length is almost invisible, so the granted base amount can easily be completely vaporized in it. ...

6. Items with "unit price" in connection with incorrect quantity estimation. Particularly relevant for earthworks.

... in terrain modeling we are operating in the third dimension, so any misestimation by just ten percent on the invoice leads to almost one-third additional costs. Similarly, an amateur self-planning of floor plans easily and unnoticed manages to add twenty percent of empty bacon-roll square meters.

2. Unclear priorities. Lack of discipline in wishes and focusing on some details costs a lot of money in the sum.

0. FOMO: following the madness of the popular saying "you only build once", the latest technical modernity is sought in order to let the house benefit for the next eighty years from the progress loss due to being overtaken by development, by having already foresightfully built in everything. On the same basis, the revenge of fate is feared for having deselected some feature, which because retrofitting it would be even more expensive, would be painfully regretted forever, even if it ...

1. Ignorance about what you really want - even if you then have an inexpensive and trouble-free construction, you might be buying the wrong thing.

... if you let it be installed out of this fear, but in practice it turns out to be a dispensable gimmick. So it is advisable to weigh the stories of the forum community: everything said by people who have already lived in their first self-built house for ten years should be weighted one and a half times (and the statements of those who have already built twice even double). Conversely, one is best advised to file the chatter of other still-planning dreamers in the drawer "children's prattle". In this sense, I myself am atypical and hard to grasp: four decades of construction planning experience, but as a residential space consumer a confessed renter—so quasi similarly oddly competent as a silver wedding anniversary divorce lawyer ;-) or a Catholic priest (who constantly marries people professionally but remains single himself—he also "only" knows flying vases from pastoral care).