Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

But what use is a nicely calculated cost accounting that is not realistic? It is often these 3,500€/sqm mentioned here. Of course, I also ask myself whether a general contractor is cheaper. But I cannot imagine that, nor would I know why it should be cheaper. There is still the chance that it will be even cheaper with the architect and individual contracts.

Of course, a flattering calculation is useless. But you have to reflect on what you are doing. The architect's fee then scales nicely upwards... don't get me wrong, I have built with architects and individual trades myself, but you have to regard him like one of the trades. €72,000 for a simple single-family house is absurd. If you do that for every trade, nothing should surprise you.

It is absolutely no problem to go to the general contractor after performance phase 4 with the plans and have it priced. That is completely normal business, both for the architect and the general contractor. The architect will find it unpleasant, but so what. Provided you were not so "stupid" as to have directly fixed all performance phases in the contract with him, of course.

But what use is a nicely calculated cost accounting that is not realistic? It is often these 3,500€/sqm mentioned here. Of course, I also ask myself whether a general contractor is cheaper. But I cannot imagine it or know why it should be cheaper. There is still the chance that it gets even cheaper with the architect and individual awarding.

Asking GCs and obtaining offers costs nothing. So what do you have to lose? The architect's bill is totally absurd.

Especially since the situation is good at the moment... I still have contact with my house seller. He has nothing to do at the moment... there are simply no more interested parties.

I wouldn't be surprised if many architects or GCs now simply follow the maxim: whoever wants to afford many sqm also has the money, so I add a markup first.

If I have to save, surely many start with the sqm, as you might calculate more tightly right away because "the competition" for 120 sqm houses is perhaps even higher than for 170-200 sqm single-family houses.

Quite possible. Whoever walks purposefully towards the 7 Series in the BMW dealership... the new car salesperson does not necessarily assume that they can only afford a 1 Series.

I will probably also ask 1 or 2 GCs. I just fear that if I go to the GCs now, they will quickly question what the architect has done so far. Then it's the typical architect thing, everything is complicated, it can be done much easier. And then usually the planning is adjusted towards pragmatism for the construction company (I am thinking, for example, of a ground-level balcony exit). And the position of the client is then weakened if you stand there without an architect. But of course, you have to question all of that with the costs nowadays. I basically do that nonstop ;)