Construction defects - Damage control?

But of course, measuring everything once after work should go without saying. You can also take the children along.

But that really depends on the age. We have two daughters, the youngest is 7 months old and screams constantly when she is not being carried. The older one is 2 years and 9 months old, likes to explore everything and also enjoys climbing everywhere.

I find it hard to imagine entering a shell construction site alone with both of them, with many unsecured drop edges, and still having free hands and attention for measurement tasks. Not to mention if a third child at an unsteady age were added.

As already said @Itenzer A house construction is not something a family member can avoid. Ideal, flexible working hours-no children-building experience, that is simply not often the case. But everyone has to pull together if a house is to be built. That is an agreement on how to handle things, already during the initial house planning. And yes, (I believe Katja means this too) If someone says "can't do it, I have children" or "can't do it, I have to work," then one should consider whether building a house fits their life situation. And then there is the option of buying an existing property, which certainly has its justification.

I can only partially understand the objections. Construction supervision, if not handed over to an expert or whoever, is really difficult to manage with 3 children. I have complete understanding for the OP. Sometimes I had to pack 3 whining children into the car in the afternoon, drive 40km to the construction site for a short conversation with a craftsman, then drive 40km back, quickly do homework, and then take the children to sports. Therefore, not building was not an option. The existing properties in the area were terrible.

Whether Katja works full-time doesn’t really matter. I am now self-employed myself and can be online all day. Then I just have to work an hour longer in the evening if I have read too much in the forum. This really should not be up for discussion here.

Katja has already opened the eyes of many users here with her commitment and usually made good suggestions. They probably appreciate that too. My criticism is not meant to be against her, but only regarding a somewhat unfortunate statement she made.

We all probably agree that it could have gone better with good, external construction supervision. Could have!

Basically, I am of the opinion that people who themselves work well, reliably, responsibly, and seriously, whether as employees, housewives, mothers/fathers, or self-employed, "simply" first assume that other people do the same, since they move in similar milieus. That is why I understand LaurasStern very well, even though I cannot assess the conditions in Austria.

I only learned here in the forum that it seems to be different in the construction industry (I have not yet read a plausible explanation for this) and have accordingly adjusted our building plans. At least one of us will be on site every day, sometimes during working hours at the construction site, sometimes outside working hours at the construction site.

If I had not read so much here in the forum, I would have just continued with our construction. I have resisted the basic attitude my entire adult life that only I do a great job and everyone else must be controlled by me because otherwise nothing works. For the construction, I will probably have to deviate from my expectations of myself.

I unfortunately cannot help you with expertise, but I am thinking of you and your family and want to assure you as an older woman that once you are in the house, the trouble will be quickly forgotten and you will feel great. It is a great blessing that you got this property and building a house almost always causes trouble. For you, at the moment, a little more, but fortunately the problems are solvable. Maybe you can focus on the fact that you could get a great property in Vienna; many others will envy you for that. It’s a bit like having children, the pain is quickly forgotten.

Thank you very much Pinkiponk for your sympathy and your empathetic words. You are definitely right about having children.

With children on the construction site is not always that easy. 1 toddler and 1 baby in the carrier should be manageable, with 2 toddlers difficult. Nevertheless, 1-2 times a day should be possible. If there is a lack of time and expertise, services must be purchased.