Construction progress: Duplex with WU basement and developed attic

The quote is really good and also makes sense.

But I wouldn’t necessarily apply it here. We didn’t push GU1 on price. That was his offer from the beginning; there were no price negotiations. If we wanted 50 cm more on one side, that was simply the extra charge for it. I had contact with him three years before signing the contract, and during that time he built a lot of houses (about 60-70). We looked at houses and talked to homeowners. There was no reason for us to be skeptical. And my building advisor also said back then that there would still be at least 10% left for the GU, that has nothing to do with me taking advantage.

I can understand your point of view; hardly anyone would likely come up with the "crazy" idea to pay more than what is stated in the offer – right?

Would you still like to answer the questions (try to be honest)?

- Don’t you now also think that the price per m² was/is too low?
- Are 40K or 45K enough as profit for a project of this size and the risk as an entrepreneur?
(How many houses can he build simultaneously in what time frame for 40-45K?)
As a gross annual income, that (in my opinion also times 2 or 3) won’t be enough for a GU with the risk!
- Do you now have doubts about some of your decisions?

I don’t want to “piss in your leg” with this, just trying to broaden your perspective ;)

Best regards, Burkhard

>850€/m2. How on earth is that supposed to work?

By the time I had read up to that point, it was basically clear what had to come next. Nowadays, no house building company can build a semi-detached house with a basement at that price.

Fingers crossed that you somehow get out of it.

Wow, a new thread about THAT house. But now I understand why you found our offer so expensive and why GU1 is bankrupt despite having a good business.. What prices are you building at now? GU2 certainly wasn’t crazy enough to take over GU1’s loss-making price, was it?

Question: Did you contract with GÜ, that is the general contractor, from whom everything was supposed to come from a single source? Construction management, architect, structural engineer, blower door, all trades up to readiness for occupation?

What does your lawyer say about the fact that you are taking care of everything yourself regarding retention and termination and such?
Who is managing the construction now?

Can someone explain to me how you all arrive at 850€ here?

- Don't you also think by now that the price per m² was/is too low? - Is 40K or 45K as profit enough for a project of this size and risk as an entrepreneur? (How many houses can he build simultaneously in what time for 40-45K) As annual gross, this (mEA also x2 or 3) won't be enough for a general contractor with that risk! - Do you now have doubts about some of your decisions?

I was really shocked when I read your sqm prices. Compared to yours, his is certainly too low. But since my construction consultant (and he really knows his stuff) said that the total price is okay, I had no doubts either. I think these 10% should be enough. The general contractor had no employees and only worked with subs, so he mostly passes on the risk. But if he has to have the excavator come for the excavation of the foundation pit not once but three times because the slope is complained about twice by the BG and then a fourth time because he has to remove incorrectly backfilled excavation, and then the inspector finds defects in the shell construction worth €31,000 and on top of that court and compensation payments totaling about €40,000 come to that, then it probably is no longer enough. However, this is certainly not because of my sqm price! Or does anyone believe that with a higher price, he would have properly excavated the pit? Doubts about my decisions: sometimes yes for a moment. But by and large, no.