Building a house at nearly 60? Risks of building/buying a house.

cool...thanks for the nice replies... Indeed, first we will write down what we need and want. In terms of type, I tend to accept things that I understand. On the other hand, I just love life. A house is a technically highly complex structure. I certainly won’t want or be able to spend my time weighing the pros and cons of different types of walls. The manufacturer’s warranty is enough for me, Kfw 70 for example. Which wall achieves the standard doesn’t matter to me because I can’t judge that anyway. With 99% probability, I won’t live there for 40 years either; so much for durability ;). My wife already asked: “What, wooden walls? And what if it burns? I wouldn’t move in there!” You see, it’s not only me who needs to be convinced. In this respect, your advice, ypg, is a good one. Two wings, easily accessible, two garages, storage room (basement or not, we will see). That would then be the headline of a requirements specification. Realistically, only a well-known prefab house manufacturer comes into consideration, meaning everything built from one source. Side projects like the outdoor area will be awarded separately and with a time delay. So one house, one contract, one signature, one price. Like at a car dealership, I’ll stick to my favorite comparison. I’m not worried about financing for now; if something is missing, I can add something. For now, it’s still like the banker owes me money, not the other way around. First, I need to know if I want something, and what I want or don’t want. Everything starts with a sensible object. Therefore, building expert, I’ll wait first to see if the manufacturers can advise me in such a way that I get a good feeling, because there will still be more people like me. I expect professionalism there. There are convincing reports in forums where people are 100% satisfied with the manufacturer. A professional advisor rather intimidates me; after all, his business model is to advise professionally, but whether he does so in my interest, I don’t know. Not everyone has a consultant friend, like a lawyer friend. A good friend from the past could help me; but the marriage broke up, also because of the (too expensive) house... not a good omen. Wife gone, house gone, back to renting. Hmm.... What still bothers me is the building plot. I visited a new development area that has been built from front to back for 4 years now. Only those who built first now live without construction noise, but trucks still drive through for the rear neighbors. Whoever builds in the current construction zone lives on the construction site for 4 years. If it’s not their own, then it’s the neighbors’. That’s not much fun. Probably the only thing left is the search for a building gap?

Hello,

Therefore, construction expert, I am now waiting to see if the manufacturers can advise me in such a way that I get a good feeling,

That is the right attitude!

because there will certainly be more guys like me.

No, unfortunately rather fewer ...

A professional consultant rather scares me; because his business model is to advise professionally, whether he does so in my interest, I do not know.

Yes, because you pay him for that; he must be independent and have only your best interest in mind. But that also implies that he points out to you if you have nonsense in your head ;)

A "piece" from my story. I am often asked whether I could build the dream house for one user or another. Mostly I decline, since it is important to me to be quickly on site, so anything beyond an 80 km radius is out. That my BU would show me the finger goes without saying. However, a user (Chinese) in 2011 was so persistent that I expanded my side business by the factor "accompaniment until construction start". This looked like me not only checking all documents thoroughly but also negotiating with his BT in the name of my customer. Today my customer happily lives in his condominium in Frankfurt.

So you see that professional construction supervisors do not have to be the worst choice. Since then I have accompanied customers nationwide on their way to their new single-family home, but I have also experienced that in the end we built the dream house :D

What still worries me is the building plot.

With your postal code you really should have no problems finding a plot. I – in your place – would not worry about that.

Rhine greetings

No, unfortunately rather less ...

How am I supposed to understand that? Which type do I belong to ... and others, how should they be assessed? What distinguishes home builders, aside from the personal, private situation?

Hello,

I imagine that in my early 50s I have a certain amount of experience. Also, when it comes to assessing things based on the written word.

You are an adult, already experienced person in life, probably having overcome one or more difficult phases in life. Importantly, you know your limits, are aware of the balance between discussion and status quo. Probably good at negotiating, but without demanding the impossible and well aware that no one has gifts to give away.

With this type of person, who also understands themselves as a temporary partner but rightly expects this, the job is only enjoyable.

I will describe the other types later, I have arrived at my destination.

Rhenish greetings

Good evening,

What distinguishes home builders, apart from the personal, private situation?

Because I promised, some treats from my professional life as a conclusion:

[*]Know-it-alls: never been in the slightest contact with the subject of house building, but thanks to Aunt Google, forums & co., they consider themselves experts.
[*]Crazy ones: own an existing property and hold the view that the new house must first be completed and the existing one sold before the contractually agreed service is paid.
[*]Heirs of large fortunes: very difficult clientele, because to build them a house, insider knowledge about currently popular celebrities is required. They often take the stance that they are the center of the universe.

[*]Representatives: the retired father of the bride (mother of the builder) sits at the table and – if the bride and groom are not careful – the father’s house is planned, but not the single-family home of the builders. Very exhausting when the father worked as a mechanical engineer in his professional life.
[*]Scaredy-cats: every aspect of the building contract, contract, room layout, fixed price, the builder’s liability insurance has been discussed multiple times and found to be good. But the signature is delayed ... there might still be a better offer lurking somewhere in the mailbox.

[*]Blue-eyed ones: all aspects of the house building, incidental costs, and the price/performance ratio in the new build have been discussed for many hours. Then a cheap provider comes around the corner and only the price at the bottom right counts, or in other words, all advice was for nothing. Such people are often found in forums with negative reports about the consequences of their decision.
[*]"it was like this at xyz" – such people are consistently negative and simply resistant to advice
[*]Down-to-earth: whether millionaire or worker, they are always firmly grounded. What they have in common is that they are willing to contribute to the success of the house building project and, if necessary, to make compromises. Building a house means finding compromises (note: rich people didn’t get their money by spending it)
[*]Craftsmen: a clientele who often overestimates their own skills
[*]Teachers, lawyers & tax officials: contrary to popular opinion, a distinctly pleasant clientele
[*]Civil servants in general: depends ... ;)
[*]to be continued

Edit:

Yvonne just made clear to me that the description of the "crazy ones" is ambiguous. Therefore, here is something more precise:

[*]Crazy ones: own an existing property and hold the view that the new house must first be completed and the existing one sold before the contractually agreed service is paid. Means: they are looking for a building partner, conclude a contract for work, want the new house built at the builder’s expense, and dream of paying only after their own existing property is sold to the highest bidder.

Rhenish greetings

Phew, maybe a bit of a crazy know-it-all who inherited something, not a civil servant, but still public service, yet fundamentally down-to-earth :)