Architect cost breakdown

Hello dear ones,

after the project with the first architect unfortunately didn’t work out, we now have one in mind with better prospects of success.

He has prepared the following cost estimate of the pure construction costs for the bank for a fully basemented KfW70 house with 120 sqm living space (external dimensions 9 x 9, 2 full floors, without attic):

Earth, masonry, concrete & steel work 76,000
Carpentry work 7,000
Sealing, roofing 11,000
Insulation 18,000
Scaffolding 2,000
Plaster 9,000
Screed 2,500
Cladding 6,500
Windows including roller shutters 20,000
Doors 5,500
Blacksmith & locksmith work 2,500
Heating & hot water preparation 18,000
Sanitary 10,000
Electricity 9,000
Floor coverings 17,000
Painting work 4,000
Smoke detectors & SAT 1,000

TOTAL 219,000

Is this understandable like this? Engineer fees, exterior facilities, drainage from the house are still to be added.

Many thanks
Teufelchen

Painting work seems a bit tight to me, but maybe something is also included in the item plaster.

Don't forget incidental construction costs

Hello,

after the project with the first architect unfortunately didn’t work out, we now have one in mind with better chances of success.

And this time your financing bank is not worried that – as with the first architect – the costs are not definitively stated, so there is no fixed price offer?

He prepared the following cost estimate of the pure construction costs for a fully basemented KfW70 house with 120 sqm living space (external dimensions 9 x 9, 2 full floors, without attic) for the bank:

Earthworks, masonry, concrete & steel works 76,000
Carpentry works 7,000
Sealing, roofing 11,000
Insulation 18,000
Scaffolding 2,000
Plaster 9,000
Screed 2,500
Cladding 6,500
Windows incl. shutters 20,000
Doors 5,500
Blacksmith & locksmith works 2,500
Heating & hot water preparation 18,000
Sanitary 10,000
Electricity 9,000
Floor coverings 17,000
Painting works 4,000
Smoke detectors & SAT 1,000

TOTAL 219,000

With external dimensions 9.00 m x 9.00 m you come to approximately 130/135 sqm living space

House 9.00 m x 9.00 m as KfW 70 efficiency house with central heating: TEUR 213 (incl. gas condensing boiler, solar domestic hot water generation + decentralized ventilation)
Basement, as usable basement: TEUR 45
Painting/floor coverings in extra work: TEUR 10
Outdoor facilities in extra work: TEUR 10
Ancillary building costs: TEUR 35-40
Finished garage 3 x 6: TEUR 6 incl. electric sectional door
Reserve for extras: TEUR 10

All in total budget: TEUR 334 incl. architectural and structural engineering costs.

Is this comprehensible? Engineer fees, outdoor facilities, drainage from the house are additional.

Clear statement: No, it is set too low.

Architects make cost estimates based on lists; these only become more concrete once tenders for the individual trades are received. So it is more or less “normal” if the final completion price deviates from the cost estimate; no blame can therefore be attributed to the architect. It is also always difficult to follow which “standard” they base their cost estimates on. Therefore, it is quite usual that the later selection of fittings causes hefty additional costs. Not to mention the currently usual craftsmen prices, which do not necessarily keep pace with the aforementioned lists; the market is booming.

What is entirely missing from your list above are the typical ancillary building costs. I assume them at TEUR 35-40, but always add the higher sum in the final calculation. If you need them, there will be no tears; if they turn out lower, you have room for one or two extras when moving in.

Rhenish greetings

After I am now finished and have moved in, I really wonder: Is it so hard to be honest with the customer? I don't think any customer complains if I have calculated too generously and it ends up being cheaper.

What does an architect gain by throwing such numbers at you, knowing, if it’s not his first house, that they will be higher? Additional construction costs, if you spend 2-3 days on the internet or an hour here in the forum, you know what can come at you. Here too, I find it impossible to use any lists that haven’t been accurate for 5 or 10 years.

So all my partners: financiers, sellers, and advisors were always interested in the actual costs, which I gladly passed on, as these people also pass them on to interested parties. Someone is now building in our neighboring town. With our permission, he was sent to us to find out what his dream house with the fancy catalog price of 190,000 plus a few extras will finally cost. He was flabbergasted, especially since he saw what we built, so no palace.

I think the legislator should intervene here, but they are too busy with election gifts and controlling their family employees.

Hello Der Da,

Now that I am finished and have moved in, I really wonder: Is it so hard to be honest with the customer? I don’t think any customer would complain if I calculated too generously and it ends up being cheaper.

I have been doing this job for quite a few years; you’d be surprised how many potential home builders don’t want to believe the actual costs. Because... there is always a provider who "offers the same service cheaper," and I, the evil salesperson, just want to sell more expensively than others, to get rich faster.... People are only too willing to believe – I’m convinced that deep down, they know they are believing against better knowledge – that the dream of owning a house can presumably be realized cheaper. The surprise, of course, comes later with full force, and then most regret not having calculated generously; having to finance afterward... if that is even feasible.

If you spend 2-3 days on the internet or an hour here in the forum reading up on additional construction costs, you know what can come at you. I also find it impossible to take any lists that haven’t been accurate for 5 or 10 years.

That is the sore point or the catch in this matter, if you will. You wouldn’t believe how many people can name every screw of their car, have found the truly cost-/benefit-efficient car offer. But when it comes to building a house, where it’s about much larger sums, they throw caution to the wind, possibly chasing bargains compared to the fools who have calculated and bought seriously.

I think the legislator should step in here...

I see that differently, with all due understanding for your frustration. I don’t want to be micromanaged even more than it already is; for the same reason, by the way, I hope that Peer and Jürgen go under. Their left-turn is unmistakable, and then step by step human abilities to manage everyday life are handed over to the state for review and reconsideration. No, thank you!

Just look at our society. Its current life elixir – so it seems – is the cheapest bargain of whatever. It knows its way around it, can spend hours researching, classifying the pros and cons of each begged-for object based on different providers, etc. Here it is in its element, self-determined, highly motivated, and very well informed...

... I must definitely be able to expect that when building a single-family home, right? Especially since all means of information are freely accessible and mostly offered free of charge.

Rhenish greetings

...after the project with the first architect unfortunately didn't work out, we now have one in mind with better prospects of success..

.. that is also a double-edged sword, because not every architect gets the best prices from a craftsman, on the contrary, if the architect has a "corresponding" reputation with the craftsmen, corresponding markups on the prices are also made.. but one could discuss that for hours again... companies that offer turnkey houses still build the cheapest houses ...