Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

Interesting news is coming from the financial world... some experts now no longer expect interest rate hikes, also due to the looming war in the Middle East, on the contrary, they even anticipate a reversal of interest rates by the ECB, meaning lower interest rates again.

So: Keep being nice and friendly. It's not difficult, he really is a good one. =)

Then I would probably just bring it up there quite neutrally. That you are worried about mold in the basement with the open window and the pipe and what might be done about it. From your story, I suspect he will find a solution. (Either he seals something himself, or the pipe is removed for now and only put back on days when it is needed)

Then I would probably just bring it up there very neutrally. That you are worried about mold in the basement with the open window and the pipe and what could be done about it. From your story, I suspect he will find a solution. (Either seal something himself, or the pipe will first be removed and only put back on days when it is needed)

Yes, that was my plan too. I will probably see him at the end of the week and would bring it up then. But it might be obsolete. The plasterers told me yesterday that they apparently have orders to be completely finished by the end of the month. I asked them about the drying times. The "boss guy" said it's not ideal, but the back of the house has been drying for a while now, so they will start the second coat there as well. I asked what could happen if it doesn’t dry long enough. He said in the worst case there could be cracks. But we get a mesh (reinforcement?) in between, which should prevent that, so it wouldn’t be too serious. I will ask the construction manager about it. But I can’t imagine he would order/approve it if he expected problems. He does many things extra in the construction process that he technically doesn’t have to according to the contract, but he does them because, as he says himself, he has to stand behind it and doesn’t want any trouble later. He always says casually, "I’d rather be invited for a beer later when I meet the people again."

Interesting news, however, come from the financial world... initial experts are no longer expecting interest rate hikes, also due to the looming war in the Middle East, on the contrary, they are even anticipating an interest rate reversal by the ECB, meaning lower interest rates again.

Yes and no. I just returned from relatively intense investment meetings at Paradeplatz. The analyst consensus at the moment is rather a reduction of key interest rates at the end of next year, by no later than 2Q25. So a postponement due to inflation holding on a bit more stubbornly than expected/ hoped for. No central banker wants to go down in the history books as the one who failed to keep inflation under control. This means that, as a tendency, it is more likely they will overshoot slightly than reduce too early.

Basically, it takes about 12-18 months for an interest rate increase to impact the real economy. We are probably now at the interest rate peak; this would roughly align with that.

Basically, it takes about 12-18 months for an interest rate increase to impact the real economy. We have probably now reached the interest rate peak, which would roughly align with that.

I am reluctant to quote myself, but I can no longer edit, and the point might have been phrased ambiguously.

Of course, the interest rate increase arrives relatively quickly or immediately, in the sense of an immediate rise in credit/bond rates, but the effects on the economy, the business cycle, then take some time.

The base coat was applied here yesterday - last week the interior plaster... So currently airing 3-5 times daily for 15 minutes... Whether the top coat will be done this year - we'll see... Still flirting with the [Besenstrich]... Annoying but nothing helps :)