Collaboration with developers: experiences

If you do the patching and connecting the sockets yourself, then you can also manage to lay the few cables from the sockets to the utility room. ;) I did it myself too. The general contractor installed empty conduits. That made laying the cables no rocket science. I was also able to distribute our satellite cables and a few speaker cables in the attic.

Yes, definitely. I've thought about it too, but I'll see when we schedule the appointment with the electrician. I wanted to provide the installation cables anyway, since I work in IT and might get them very cheaply. I can patch and crimp, but I've never installed sockets myself. But that should be easy to do. One thing at a time, though.

Overall, everything else is probably very similar.

As for sampling, probably (?) But when it comes to electricity/water/costs for drying screed during the construction phase and stuff like that, my question was basically whether there are differences if you build with a developer. Basically, we are calculating with a similar buffer, but I think we already have a bit more included in the construction price (painter's fleece/white painted walls as well as floors). As for contracts, yes, I had also read that with financing, you should ideally sign within two weeks before the notary. But how do you time that? So.. I ask the bank, they say, yeah, that would work, with an offer. Then you usually only have a short time to submit the remaining documents and so on, and then the bank usually takes some more time to review the documents (and here I have already read about significantly varying processing times). If everything is okay now, I assume it’s about finalizing and signing the contracts, right? Now you somehow make appointments for the financing contract and the notary and so on? Do you have a bit of time there or are the banks also on your case with "if you don’t come by and sign within 3 days, then nope"?

But regarding electricity/water/costs for drying the screed during the construction phase and such, my question was basically whether there are any differences if you are building with a property developer.

You are buying a piece of house with land. And you only pay for a piece of house with land. And that according to a legally defined payment schedule. Additional construction costs are the costs of the builder ==> that is the property developer. Usually, no further costs will arise for you. Maybe only the surveying, if you are already the owner. But electricity, water, etc. are included in the price.

It's like buying a car. You don't pay extra for the electricity during production or anything like that.

You buy a portion of a house with land. And you only pay for a portion of the house with land. And that according to a legally fixed payment plan. Additional construction costs are the costs of the builder ==> that is the property developer. In general, no further costs will arise for you. Maybe the surveying, if you are already the owner. But electricity, water, etc. are included in the price.

It’s like buying a car. You don’t also pay for the electricity during production or something similar on top.

That just makes it much easier for you :)
But you should definitely take a very close look at the final contract again.

Regarding the financing:
After we had finished planning a model, our bank advisor secured the offer for 4-5 days for us. During that time, the interest rates could no longer rise for us. It even became €30 cheaper per month because he advocated for us internally and was able to reduce the interest rates slightly. So try to get along well with your bank advisor. Friendliness is key in such matters. It’s not the end of the world, but over 30 years that adds up.
After the deadline, there may be a new offer with updated interest rates.

But before you even get an offer, you have to have a consultation and work out a financing model with your advisor. That also takes some time. And maybe check your credit report (Schufa) beforehand. It should definitely be completely clean.

After we had finished planning a model, our bank advisor secured the offer for us for 4-5 days.

And was the contract signing for the financing right away then? We are currently having more the problem that we are faster in the financing discussions than in the conversations with the developer. Although he communicated a timeframe from the beginning (notary appointment rather August, contracts still in progress), somehow discussing financing, inquiring about conditions, and so on all went much faster than expected and now we are jittery :rolleyes:

And then the contract for the financing was signed immediately?

We are currently having the problem that we are faster in the financing discussions than in the talks with the developer. He did communicate a timeframe from the beginning (notary appointment more likely in August, contracts still in progress), but somehow everything regarding discussing the financing, requesting conditions, and so on went much faster than expected and now we are restless :rolleyes:

Yes, we had to sign within that period, otherwise the offer would have expired. I doubt there is any bank that will secure an offer now until August. But right now the interest rates have settled well. We had signed in February, when the interest rates were really rising daily. That was really stressful and urgent. Just because of all the processing times and planning, our rate became €200 more expensive because the interest rate ran away from us completely. Currently, fortunately, the interest rates seem to be falling again a bit, so it is probably even smarter to wait, but of course no one really knows. As long as the interest rates don't change, I wouldn't stress about it. Of course, you want everything to start as quickly as possible, but you definitely shouldn't rush anything.

First wait for the authorities. After that, you will wish you only had to wait one month :D You always hear from older people that bureaucracy in Germany is slow and always shrugged it off, but now slowly I feel this hatred too.