Construction cost per sqm, affordable vs. expensive providers, construction cost reduction

Hello everyone,

a bit of context for my question below
- we are planning a single-family house, approx. 150m2 floor area
- equipment not the cheapest, but reduced to the essentials for cost reasons
- price estimates below only house construction including base slab, move-in ready after painting and flooring, including sanitary
- excluding ancillary construction costs, outdoor facilities, kitchen, furnishings
- construction area Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart metropolitan area

After receiving price estimates from a handful of providers upon request for the planned construction of our single-family house, I see the current construction costs at
- solid house providers KfW40+ QNC 3000-3200EUR per sqm
- prefabricated house providers KfW40+ QNC 3000-3300EUR per sqm
- prefabricated house providers KfW55 3000-3100EUR per sqm
for mid-range providers who build turnkey or move-in ready.

In addition, there are providers where more own work is required, e.g. shell houses. Here the builder has to commission and coordinate the trades more on their own (electric, base slab, drywall) and/or perform more own work (painting, flooring, drywall), then I come to
- solid house providers KfW40+ 2800EUR per sqm
- solid house providers KfW55 2600EUR per sqm
- prefabricated house providers KfW55 2600-2700EUR per sqm
QNC probably does not apply here due to own work, therefore maximum 100,000EUR KfW loan or financing without KfW at all.

I still come to total costs for our construction project that exceed our currently planned financial framework.
At the same time, I think it makes little sense to inquire with more companies – for comparable construction services and quality, construction prices will not differ significantly. Perhaps a 2% difference between providers is expected, that is around 15,000EUR – great, but not a sufficient leverage.

What I am looking for
- do you consider the above prices realistic or have I gone wrong somewhere (equipment, communication, ...) and have been offered rather high prices?
- are there realistic options I have not considered and with which I can reach 2700-2800EUR (KfW40) or 2600EUR (KfW55)?
-- other ways of building, providers who are inherently cheaper, e.g. through standardization, concrete instead of stone/wood frame, ...?
-- more self-commissioning – is it worth it to commission the solar system from another provider than the general contractor or do I end up saving only insignificantly with much effort?
-- doing more yourself...? Is limited possible, I am not a professional – painting yes, flooring yes, drywall hmm maybe if it works, ...
- cheaper providers that I may not have found yet...?
- promotions such as interest subsidies / grants etc. by individual providers as part of current campaigns?
- ...?

I would gladly build energy-efficient, but the offered construction costs are simply no longer affordable with the increased interest rates and after the loss of subsidies. QNC – nice idea, but the costs associated with it are also priced in and contribute to the fact that I, as a well-earning father, currently CANNOT build a house.
Maybe you have some creative ideas on how I can still look for solutions.

We are currently building in Aspach, RemsMurrKreis; Coming to 153m2 nt living space and will end up at just under €3900 per meter (nt). Equipment standard to slightly upscale. Single contract/double garage I think your prices are realistic, but rather in the lower price segment. At least in the Stuttgart area.

The Flair 152 from Town & Country is available from 322,000 EUR in the Stuttgart area, so for just under 2,200 EUR with a basic standard.
However, you have to do the flooring and painting work plus the kitchen yourself.

The equipment is debatable. I built such a house... by the way, for, after final billing, 294,000 EUR including the 2021 price adjustment and additional foundation costs... we only upgraded in electrical work (more sockets, a few data sockets), windows (RC2), and the stairs (oak), tiles and sanitary facilities were all standard.
And I don't think it corresponds to the level of a prefabricated building from the 1970s, as is often snarked here.

Of course, you have to be able to live with the lifelong stigma of being the one in the building area who built with "Penny" and not with Edeka or even the delicatessen store...

But anyway. Calling 3,900 EUR/m² "standard to slightly upscale"... that is far from reality. Completely unrealistic.

Stop always comparing apples and oranges. Whoever quotes square meter prices must also clearly specify what is included in the price. Otherwise, the comparison is pointless. Basically, you should certainly calculate about €3000/m² today for a ready-to-move-in house with foundation slab and photovoltaic system. With a lot of personal effort, maybe a bit less, then you just value your time at €0/h. Shell houses rely on the idea that you do a lot yourself. In practice, many end up contracting out quite a bit anyway, which results in high coordination effort. Price-wise, solid construction and prefab houses are relatively similar as long as the standard is comparable. And here we are already at the crucial lever. Choose a provider whose standard is relatively close to your wishes. Upgrades always come expensive. And be honest about it.

Lower your demands and go for a standard floor plan from one of the affordable standard providers, furnish as little as possible. You can certainly afford a house, just maybe not the one you dream of.

The 3000 euros per square meter is about right if you don't want to contribute any personal work. What do you do for a living? Use your opportunities. Everyone has something they can contribute. My build costs 1300 euros per square meter and 3 years of my life. With 24.5 kWh heating costs per square meter and all comforts.