Hello,
first of all - I just moved your post to the moderated forum. With the last reply from 'Grym', the discussions about the various providers can now start
Our budget is roughly between 500,000 and 600,000 euros all inclusive, of which about 40,000 euros is equity.
Mostly you only hear about price per sqm (1500-1600 off the shelf, 1800 individually planned).
Even if it may surprise you, this is the best answer you can get - at this point in time. Although I consider €1,600.00 as a realistic mid-standard for BW; upwards is of course open.
And when you receive a base price, it remains completely open how high the certainly incurred additional costs for special requests will be. Actually, I thought you could basically approach a house purchase like buying a car, meaning: find the manufacturer and model and then check the boxes on the "extras list" and add it all up. Of course, some things will change later, but the rough direction would be given at first.
Building a house is different from buying a car; also more individual than a car purchase where the extra price list is manageable. Example: the question whether to have air conditioning or not can be answered with one of the two options when buying a new car; with house building this is not the case, because the number of providers available and their pricing policies are diverse.
My current status is that I have created an Excel spreadsheet in which I have entered 13 houses from different manufacturers that could "fit" both in terms of external framework data and visually.
Uff - a bit much ...
[*]1) Weberhaus CityLife 600,
[*]2) Hanse Haus Cubus )
[*]3) Kern-Haus Bauhaus Futura,
If comparing, then please consistently by system! The above exemplary list contains both prefab and solid house providers. That simply cannot be compared => apples and oranges.
Now you come into play. I can still manage the calculation "total budget minus land price & ancillary building costs." What I lack is the variable x for special equipment ... Are we talking about 10,000 - 20,000 euros or about 80,000 - 120,000 euros?
We are "talking" about TEUR 10 to 120
Every provider follows their own pricing and surcharging policy - one "gives away" an Opel® on paper, another deliberately forgoes these purchase incentives because they are akin to window dressing; nobody gives anything away! But since everyone likes to be "gifted" and the market is fiercely competitive anyway, these "gifts" often ensure that the synapses only start working again after signing.
That means your Excel spreadsheet finds its predetermined limits and, accordingly, should not provide the final decision. This can quickly go south, as one of the users of this forum recognized; even before the excavator started its work. When choosing a temporary building partner, not only the bare numbers should tip the scales.
Does anyone perhaps have a good tip on how I can best get the relevant information? Can an employee of the manufacturing companies provide information on this? Is there perhaps even a catalog for special equipment with pricing?
Decide in the first step whether you want to build a prefab or a solid house. Then reduce your provider list to a maximum of 5 providers. Then hold discussions with them and have them create an offer based on that, which also considers and prices your special wishes. A kind of catalog for special equipment only exists for system/box providers; but this also considerably reduces your influence regarding size and equipment. Make sure all 5 providers price the same floor plan!
On the subject of pre-sampling - some users always and gladly recommend this - I have an ambivalent attitude. I am not convinced that the user has to be able to greet every single adhesive/foil by name. What remains then - looking soberly - are tiles, interior doors and especially sanitary objects, and the latter are - with the vast majority of reputable providers - exclusively marked by brand items. In my experience, it is sufficient to include a buffer for cataloging sanitary objects in the budgeting.
The same applies for tiles, where currently a trend towards wood look is popular. These resemble classic wood panels in shape and require a higher cut-off (baseboards), which can easily incur an additional cost of up to €120.00/sqm (depending on the selection of the wood tile manufacturer).
Regarding the interior doors, these transverse grooves are very popular; they always remind me somewhat of these M-ribs on sectional doors. Also satin or printed doors for kitchen access are popular and diverse in offer. Overall, however, manageable surcharges.
I am a fan of shells; in any state of finishing. Consider going in this direction and have the remaining 3 providers - after the offer phase has ended (most expensive and cheapest in file "P") - show you shells. Nowhere does the character of a provider reveal itself better than at this location. What does the construction site look like? How does the quality of the previously installed trades appear to the observer?
References are also a good tool to make a personal selection. Important here - also ask the referees about the sales person of the property and what impression he/she left on the buyers. Can they recommend him/her?
Drive unannounced to new development areas - preferably on weekends - and look for construction sites of the provider you favor. You will certainly meet builders there who will give you an unfiltered impression of their experience so far. If the salesperson/site manager is on site, statements are often less meaningful.
And - read construction diaries.
All this together will give you a reliable impression of your favored partner; also with regard to their surcharge policy.
Rhineland regards