Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

Over the weekend we visited a large tile exhibition in southern Germany. According to the seller: the stocks are full, it is artificially controlled what is to be purchased (namely, what is currently in stock). High-quality tiles are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain because some important additive is mined 70% in Ukraine... White tiles are slowly no longer being produced because a lot of this additive is needed. (Unfortunately, I forgot what it is called).
For us, the structural builder was supposed to start after Easter. Yesterday a phone call: earliest end of JUNE!!!! :mad:

At the beginning of February, we sampled all tiles for the interior and the balcony at a local tile dealer. Since we want to lay the same exterior tiles on both terraces, we called there proactively.
Exact words: We still have XY square meters of the sampled tiles. Whatever is gone is gone. Whether they get some more, he doesn't know.
The statement therefore corresponds to yours. Moreover, I already found it weak that they didn’t inform our general contractor on their own in the form: "Your builder Z has sampled the tiles. They are running low. We suggest: ___."

And today you still finance houses outside the metropolitan regions (important distinction) for half a million on 80,000€ land?

No. For more. Plus support measures. ;)

I now know several people who calculated a 10% buffer, but it’s already gone. They are now at the limit just before construction start, including bank and family loans. If the 20-30% price increases come after the GU’s fixed price deadline expires, that’s it. We ourselves can’t even afford an additional 5% in costs and are just hoping there won’t be any further increases after tiles, flooring, and stairs.

An acquaintance two houses down recently signed his contract with a prefabricated house company. A 6-month fixed price guarantee starts immediately; that’s all they are offering right now. However, construction is not expected to start until 08/2023 due to being fully booked. That could be interesting as well.

We sampled all tiles for the interior and the balcony at a local tile dealer at the beginning of February. Since we want to use the same outdoor tiles on both terraces, we proactively called there. Exact quote: We still have XY square meters of the sampled tiles. What’s already gone is gone. Whether they will get some more, he didn’t know. So the statement aligns with yours. Besides, I already found it weak that they didn’t inform our general contractor on their own with something like: "Your client Z has sampled the tiles. They’re running low. We suggest: ___."

I cannot verify my information because I have no valid data. The rumor speaks of a 30% price increase for tiles in the coming months. As I said, I have heard it many times, but cannot substantiate it with any concrete information de facto. However, natural stone has already risen by 25-40%, which is primarily due to ship shortage and generally increased transport costs. For my granite in the garden, I already had to pay +20% at the end of last year instead of €4000.

Another nice example of construction cost increases for individual products.

I had private contact with my heat pump supplier today. The Panasonic Monoblock is currently 64% more expensive compared to a year ago, but at the moment it is not available. Similar price increases can be seen with other models.

This is because a large part of the old building owners, out of fear of oil and gas prices, are having the current cure-all heat pump installed in their houses.

The Panasonic in particular is highly praised in terms of price/performance. There is also the Monoblock version with a ready-made refrigeration circuit for people without a refrigeration certificate. Exaggeratingly speaking, only the supply and return lines need to be connected and it's done.

I am already curious when the complaints start next year after the upcoming heating season about all the makeshift solutions and DIY projects...

In the spirit of "Why are my electricity costs so high" or "Can I sue my heating installer, the electricity costs of the heat pump are eating up my savings."

The Panasonic in particular is highly praised in terms of price/performance. Then there is also the monoblock version with a complete refrigeration circuit for people without a refrigeration certificate. To put it bluntly, only the supply and return lines need to be connected and that's it.

Yep, it's actually a job for fools. I myself have already installed two monoblocks.

I'm already curious when the complaining will start next year after the upcoming heating season, about all the makeshift solutions and DIY projects...

You can almost assume that the makeshift solutions run better than many systems from heating engineers. The DIY projects are not built according to the heating engineer's motto "we've always done 15cm spacing of underfloor heating" but are usually actually calculated and designed appropriately.

P.S. I am actually also positively surprised that the monoblock runs really well.