Construction expert for the complete building or only final acceptance

rather 3-4 thousand EUR if there are to be a reasonable number of appointments. Self-employed. I once saw a report about TÜV that confirmed my impression, formed through private contacts, of the organizational structure, prioritization, and professional competence of the employees of this institution. To put it more clearly: I don't think much of them, even though some individuals may certainly be good. But you just don't know that in advance. In other words: A good expert doesn't need a seal as advertising to get enough assignments.

About the Association of Private Builders (Verband Privater Bauherren)

We will also have an expert approve every construction progress in our new single-family house build.
With our condominium back then, I did not have one with me. That was a mistake.

What would you say, would it be worth having an expert supervise the entire construction?

I would have him involved throughout the entire construction phase. Especially defects in the shell construction might no longer be visible at the final inspection or, in the worst case, could require a major dismantling. In any case, it was worth it for us, as our building savings contract really found several flaws that you simply don't see as a layperson.

That would certainly get very expensive

Depending on how many appointments are arranged. For us, it ended up being around 1,700 euros for:
- Foundation slab before concrete pouring
- WU formwork before concrete (+ foundation slab after concrete)
- Shell inspection including roof frame
- Underfloor heating before screed
- Composite waterproofing in the sanitary area
- ETICS before reinforcement plaster
- Final inspection

Our building savings contract advised us on these appointments with optional additional services, which he, however, considered less useful.

How did you find your expert, did you take a freelancer or one from TÜV or DEKRA?

We searched via the IHK website. It was important to me to have an independent building savings contract who is publicly appointed and sworn in.

On the one hand, this is very inexpensive per appointment, but on the other hand, in my opinion, it is also too few appointments.

Here is the recommendation of an expert I had consulted (with mine I hadn’t formalized it so strictly because I already knew him):

1. Inspection of the base slab reinforcement before concreting the base slab, but without comparison to any existing reinforcement plans.

2. Intermediate visit, approx. on the 2nd day of constructing the ground floor masonry to check and assess the damp-proof layers against rising ground moisture.

3. Inspection of the ground floor masonry, inspection of the horizontal and vertical waterproofing, and the ground floor ceiling before concreting, including inspection of the installation of ventilation ducts.

4. Inspection of the upper floor masonry and the upper floor ceiling before concreting, including inspection of the installation of ventilation ducts.

5. Inspection of the shell construction including the roof truss and roof covering including the gutters.

6. Inspection of window and exterior door installation.

7. Inspection of the rough installation of electrical work, heating work, and plumbing work before plaster and screed are applied.

8. Inspection of insulation and vapor barrier layer of the drywall construction before the gypsum board cladding is installed.

9. Inspection of plaster and screed works.

10. Inspection of tiling work in the bathrooms including waterproofing, as far as not already covered by tiles.

11. Inspection of the final installation of electrical work, heating work, and plumbing work.

12. Inspection of the finished building according to the contract at the time of handover for visible and apparent defects, deviations from the contract specifications, the acknowledged rules of technology and professional standards as well as the technical documents, as available. Accompaniment during acceptance and advice on technical questions.

I usually pay around 300-400 EUR per appointment depending on the effort...

Not necessarily at identical times, but as a rough estimate, I would say the number of expert visits can roughly correspond to the number of installments in the payment plan.

It was important to me to have an independent building savings contract that is publicly appointed and sworn in.

This is not a guarantee, but a good argument that my expert is sufficient for the judge (i.e., it takes the wind out of the sails of the opposing side trying to play the game with counter-expert opinions).