Construction progress: Duplex with WU basement and developed attic

It's not easy either. To get what you are entitled to.

It's not just about being in the right and getting your right, but beforehand also the personal sense of justice. Feeling justified and actually being justified can diverge significantly. Morality, ethics, decency, etc. Fortunately, here in this country, that is more strongly decoupled from legislation. I say fortunately on purpose, because otherwise churches, holy scriptures, theologians, moral crusaders, charlatans, etc. would decide as they please. You don’t have to look to other continents for examples; just a glance at various EU countries suffices. Back to the topic.

Personally, the risk of an ever-growing cost bubble from GCs, experts, and lawyers would worry me far too much. Don’t get me wrong, but in my opinion there will always be a GC/expert/lawyer number x+1 who convincingly assures you that the service from GC/expert/lawyer number x was inadequate.

100% my opinion. I also had to realize myself in construction that the craftsmen who badmouthed others’ work were not better by any means. Rather even worse. Craftsmen... lawyers... both special breeds with differences and commonalities.

I had a very, very long appointment yesterday (4.5 hrs.) with the new lawyer.

[..], that his hourly rate is at €300 [..]

Of course, I also have concerns that it might turn out differently than I imagine. And when I found out yesterday that tomorrow’s expert opinion can easily cost €12,000, well

Crazy how the costs are skyrocketing. Be careful not to get sucked into a vortex. The initial investment is already so high that you also have to take every next chargeable step. What are, say, €2,000 more when you have already advanced xx,000€? Mentally, it becomes ever harder to pull the emergency brake if this lawyer turns out to be no authority.

Do you at least have the feeling that the new lawyer has a solid strategy? Have you passed on various concerns we mentioned in the forum to the lawyer, and was the lawyer able to refute these concerns convincingly?

Could you explain to us again what the purpose of the second expert report tomorrow is?
Someone had once asked why the invoice from the new general contractor isn't sufficient?

I'll try to explain it right away, even though I'm currently in shock. I have known about the appointment scheduled for tomorrow since yesterday and just now, at 5:45 PM, I received an offer that I just read:
Accordingly, a loose sum of €18,000 or more will be due (125 €/hour net with an estimated workload of about 120 hours + incidental costs and VAT) without any upper limit or additional costs if another expert for building technology systems has to be involved, whose coordination would then also be taken over. You can really overdo it! I just wrote to them that under these conditions I refrain from commissioning.

So, calmed down again and back to your question. It wouldn't be the 2nd expert report. No, I had 2 with the 1st general contractor, then general contractor 2 came with 2 experts he paid for and 2 experts I paid for. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. So it would be the 7th expert report!
And now I've had enough of it. I'll keep pushing through, but without this outrageously expensive 7th expert report. I fear my new lawyer won't be pleased about that. This expert was supposed to 1. record the construction defects (some of which no longer even exist), 2. financially evaluate the performance of general contractor 2 (which is no longer fully possible), 3. assess the defect remediation costs, and 4. list the construction supervision errors. Certainly, all of this is very extensive and time-consuming, but not 100% legally secure because it is not a judicial evidentiary preservation procedure. That can still be ordered later and then you pay for the "fun" again. It's disgusting. Sorry. And who do I have to thank for this? My dear lawyer who hasn't done anything in this regard for 6 months. He could have applied for an evidentiary preservation procedure long ago and we would most likely already have a date for it. :(

@Hausbau0815[/USER] Do you at least have the feeling that the new lawyer has a solid strategy? Have you passed on the various concerns we mentioned in the forum to the lawyer, and was the lawyer able to refute these concerns convincingly?

Yes, I do have that feeling. He also explained his strategy to me. A good lawyer does not refute concerns if they are justified. Only a bad one does that. They don’t care whether you win or lose. They get their money anyway. A good lawyer makes you aware of the risks.

Accordingly, a loose €18,000 or more will be due here (125 € / hour net with an estimated workload of about 120 hours + incidental costs and VAT) without a cap upwards or additional costs in case of the necessary involvement of another expert for building technology systems, whose coordination you would then take over. You can also overdo it! I just wrote to them that under these conditions I refrain from commissioning.

Crazy... good that you canceled. Such an offer on the eve is just not acceptable. Unbelievable...

It's not easy either. Getting your rights. There is a reason for this saying... and if you don't have an academic education in the field or deal with it professionally often, you avoid the long and expensive way.

That's why I hope you have the money and the nerves to go through with it. But eventually admit when it no longer works.

But please report about it.

No, then I definitely won't report anymore. If it goes wrong, I'll throw myself off the edge of the carpet. :eek:

Crazy... good that you canceled. An offer like that on the eve is just not acceptable. Unbelievable...

I wonder if the new lawyer sees it the same way? The thing is, they apparently have enough clients lining up to get an appointment with them and pay these sums. It's supposed to be the most renowned expert office here with over 20 employed experts. I only got in through the relationship with the new lawyer. But screw it.