Building a Single-Family House - Your Independent Opinion

We are now moving in October not after half a year like the builders who constructed the turnkey house, but after 1 1/2 years, because not every helper could come to the construction site every day and we also managed a lot just the two of us.

The times when you could build a turnkey house within 6 months are over.

We build turnkey, but for us, it will be about 15 months between signing the contract and moving in!

Regards,

Dirk

The times when you could build a turnkey house within 6 months are over. We build turnkey, but for us the period between contract signing and moving in will be around 15 months!

Uh - contradiction. For us, construction (solid) began on 04/30 and the projected completion, including 3 weeks factored in for painting and flooring work (own contribution), is in the second week of November. Okay - it’s not 6 months but 6.5 months - but otherwise it fits. So far the construction schedule is being well adhered to. A delay that occurred (1 week) was caught up again because two trades worked simultaneously on the house. However - when we signed the contract, the entire project was already fully planned (execution plans were already created), the building permit was granted, and the specification of materials was partly completed. Our company follows the philosophy that they plan and design everything with the customer as far as possible and the customer will then not back out when it comes to signing because of the service provided. As far as I know, the company generally operates this way. For us, about 12 months passed between the initial meeting and the contract signing (including discarding a draft due to excessive costs, creating several alternatives, and then planning the “final result”). In between there were numerous (12 - 18) consultation and planning appointments. If this status has basically already been reached, then such an execution time is indeed possible. :cool: To add one more thing: Friends of ours built a “fully planned single-family house” (solid), which was identical to 12 other houses in the neighborhood. Construction started in November 2013 and they moved in March 2014. Although there was even a construction delay of one month here. <--- I have to say, however, that I myself have concerns whether everything is really okay and actually dry. Our friends haven’t discovered any problems in the last months.

Ok, impressive...

Our provider is now so busy that the sampling has proven to be a bottleneck.

Since our equipment was finalized (beginning of May), the construction has been running smoothly.

Well, we also have the 6-week summer break in between, but we have scheduled it so that it can be used for drying the basement.

Okay, we also have the summer break of 6 weeks in between

Fortunately, we do not have a summer break. Apart from the fact that the screed drying takes place in August - but that has to happen anyway. o_O

Hello again and thanks for the numerous replies :)

What just came to mind:
Ask the building society whether you can actually withdraw the money without any problems.

So, the one building savings contract where I have €23,000 on it would be payable for residential purposes. What I might add is that the contract is concluded for €75,000.
The other building savings contract is for €50,000 and as I was told, at least 30% must be paid in, then I get the amount paid out.
As I said, we’re still trying to save quite a bit. I want to borrow as little money as possible from a bank. ;)

One thing about building with family/friends: We did that too. The big catch is, you must not be in a hurry to move into the house!

Yes, that would be how it is with us too, as I said we have an apartment, which isn’t huge but definitely sufficient and cheap. So my uncle and my dad said they would take time off or help after work. I will do the same as far as my work allows.
As I already wrote, it’s a question of costs. I think, why should I hire a tiling company when a friend does it every day anyway and offers me his help. Luckily there are still people like that nowadays!! :rolleyes: