Builder - cost-neutral changes that now do cost money

Hello,

we are building with a developer (contract not yet signed). We have had the plans for the ground floor changed (open kitchen instead of a separate room). Since this is a load-bearing wall, a steel beam must be installed. We have already received a printout from the developer stating "Änderung Küche EG - kostenneutral möglich". Now, shortly before signing the contract, we have suddenly been charged 600 euros for the kitchen change. When I asked why it was initially stated as cost-neutral, the answer was: yes, we would have liked to do it, but unfortunately, it is not possible after all.

Is this really normal business practice? I guess we have no choice but to swallow it and pay another 600 euros.

Building really is only associated with trouble!!!

I wish you good nerves.... this is just the beginning. Wait until the authorities come into play .... hehe

I would ask myself, do we have other such points. What would it cost if each point is then charged separately. The 600 € is peanuts, but if it’s always like this, you start to wonder where it will end. I would have a very clear word with the developer, and above all, put in writing what you agree on afterwards... not just notes in the margin, but contract additions.

Hello,

as far as I know, changes are charged accordingly.
Example: a window is removed - cost reduction. Moving walls - neutral, as long as no changes to the structural engineering are necessary.
Maybe your developer meant it that way and it was not immediately foreseeable that structural concerns were involved. Now they are, and additional costs arise.
Perhaps the whole matter was just phrased somewhat awkwardly.

By the way, the Da is right - even with supposedly good planning, some additional costs will still arise. Therefore, plan a certain reserve for incidental construction costs.

Regards...

Hello,

we are building with a developer (contract not yet signed). We have had the plans for the ground floor changed (open kitchen instead of a separate room). Since this is a load-bearing wall, a steel beam must be installed. We have already received a printout from the developer stating "Change kitchen ground floor - cost-neutral possible."

I assume – since you are obviously about to sign the contract – and the plans were probably largely finalized, that you do not have to pay anything for the redrawing?

Now, shortly before signing the contract, we have suddenly been quoted 600 euros for the kitchen change. When I asked why it was said to be cost-neutral at first, the answer was: yes, we would have liked to do it, but unfortunately it is not possible after all. Is this really normal business behavior? I guess we have no choice but to swallow it and pay another 600 euros.

You don’t have to “swallow” anything – you simply deviated from the originally calculated variant. By removing the load-bearing wall, additional costs arose due to the necessary beam, which you have to bear.

Your provider could also have waited until the statics were submitted and then presented you the invoice. His procedure is fair in this way, as you can still switch back to the original planning cost-neutrally. After submission of the statics, this is no longer so easily possible; then you would have had to bear additional costs for recalculation.

Building is really only associated with trouble!!!

Not necessarily; with a little calm and reflection, on the contrary.

Best regards

Possibility ("something is possible") colloquially denotes a rather vague low probability of an event occurring, which is to be regarded as a personal opinion.

Thanks Wiki

The rest has already been said by Bauexperte.
And annoyance or stress and extra charges will still come a whole lot!

When I read all this, it seems that we made a good choice with our general contractor regarding changes. All changes were free of charge up until the signing of the final work plans, within a certain scope, of course, even though completely new preliminary plans were created after each change. Naturally, additional services related to the construction project, such as extra windows, etc., were included in an adjusted house price, but shifting/extending/shortening walls, even if it slightly altered the structural engineering, remained free of charge. Only when signing the final work plans were we made aware that from then on any changes would be subject to charges because the wall elements would then go into production.