I also believe the final price is probably quite similar. For that, you have less trouble with the architect and get exactly the house you want (at least, that's what I hope, we are still in the process).
I don't think I had a single contract with our company.
You mean no written contract.
the rest was done with a handshake
That is also a contract.
I don't think I had a single contract with our company. The most formal thing was a signed offer, the rest was done with a handshake. However, if you get an architect who accompanies everything until the handover of the keys, you probably won't save a cent compared to the general contractor.
I partly agree here. Although I think it also depends on the number of special requests. If you have many target criteria and high demands and take a general contractor whose standard has little overlap with your own, architect + individual contracts will often be cheaper. Conversely, a general contractor whose standard closely matches your wishes can often be cheaper. Mind you, this does not have to be a low standard. It depends more on the number of deviations and how the general contractor handles them.
I am still a fan of honesty, partnership, and common sense.
Yes, that's best, but unfortunately you can't really rely on that, or rather you can only read the business partners' foreheads and not behind them. And with the sums involved in house construction...
Of course, broken down into individual trades it's not quite so much at once, but still more than what you usually spend on anything.
It would be good if you could rely on recommendations within your circle of acquaintances.
So from what I have heard so far, it is extremely expensive to hire an architect who practically acts as a project manager. In terms of costs, you might as well work directly with a company that delivers everything turnkey. The plan would be to have the house designed (input plan etc.) and then start a kind of tender. For example, 3 inquiries to a civil engineering company, 3 inquiries to companies that do the roof structure, etc.
The plan would be to have the house drawn (input plan etc.) and then to start some kind of tender. For example, 3 inquiries to a civil engineering company, 3 inquiries to companies that do the roof truss, etc.
How good are you at craftsmanship? Can you assess the work of the individual trades or do you have someone (father, father-in-law, brother, ...) who can do that?