Construction costs were estimated far too low

2013-12-03 21:33:27

Oh dear, I hope for you that it will still have a good ending and that you can sleep well again.

2013-12-04 07:47:53

We have done several tenders per trade. Not only through the architect but also on our own. Only: if you think a heating system plus installation costs €15,000 and then you receive offers all over €25,000, you're left standing there not knowing what's going on. Then the architect says: the heating engineer X is way too expensive because he checked and compared it and ....
We then sit down, study the offers and find that one heating engineer has various items included that another does not have, etc. We inform the architect of this and he says: true. I saw it that way too... :confused:
We read and understand each tender as well as our knowledge allows, also read books about building, call craftsmen, etc...
Even today, I cannot say how high the construction costs will ultimately be. Simply because I have no idea how much some work costs. KfW house or not... Which plaster and why? Then 4 or 5 tenders come back and the amounts do not differ significantly in some cases.
Even worse are the costs that nobody tells you about: rent for the box for construction electricity, sewer, filling, departure, municipal costs for closures, surveying, energy pass, etc. SOMETHING like that should an architect know, if he is constantly building. Why doesn't he say that?

Apparently you did not agree on a fixed price after all and are completely overwhelmed with the contract form. I would immediately take Bauexperte’s advice and seek advice from the arbitration committee.

Still my question: where does the architect’s responsibility begin? Can he really write any arbitrary sum X in the building application and if the client can no longer shoulder it, then tough luck and life just goes on for the architect?
Hansi

What amount is stated in the building application didn’t interest a single soul for us. Only what is black on white in the contract with the architect is relevant. I would not hope for the architect’s sense of responsibility and kindness of heart.

2013-12-04 12:14:40

Dear Hansi, you have gotten a real specialist :( I am sorry for you! I still maintain the opinion that every client should research in advance what a house costs. No matter who promises to build the house for 150k, they will fail. Even an architect can / may / must be questioned. You did not agree on a fixed price, but the architect had calculated construction costs for you in advance - that is something completely different. It is also somewhat naive to now place the entire responsibility on the architect. The soil report can also be explained by the producer of the report, then you know what to expect. In all lists by building experts, additional costs due to foundation are included. Exactly for such cases. Ancillary building costs are also very well documented here in the forum - read through the various topics about this and you will realize that there can still be many pitfalls. The architect must have submitted a deviation analysis for each trade compared to the forecasted costs, right? Or you didn't do that yourselves? If that is the case, the first contract should not have been awarded.

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Construction costs were estimated far too low

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kaho674

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