Cost of attic conversion

Hello @ all! We want to purchase a mid-terrace house and for cost reasons would have to forego the expansion of the attic. Even after some research, it is difficult to estimate an approximate amount as "savings potential." Therefore, the question is for a very rough estimate from you of what could be saved if the entire attic expansion is omitted. More precisely: - Size of the roof structure 33 sqm - 3 doors removed - 3 walls removed - Heating moved from the attic to the basement - Massive concrete staircase replaced by a loft ladder (wood) - No screed, only "standard" insulation Thanks and best regards! 0-number

Hello,

We want to buy a middle terraced house and for cost reasons would have to forgo the expansion of the attic. Even after some research, it is difficult to estimate an approximate amount as "saving potential."

The seller should be able to tell you the exact amount, why don’t you ask directly there?

Therefore the question about a very rough estimate from you of what could be saved if the entire attic expansion is omitted. That means a bit more precisely:
- Size of the roof structure 33 sqm - 3 doors removed - 3 walls removed - heating moved from the attic to the cellar - massive concrete stairs replaced by loft stairs (wood) - no screed, only "standard" insulation

That sounds to me at first not like an attic but rather a loft; then it would also match the stated number of doors and walls – what confuses me is the mention of screed...

Anyway, whatever you decide – and if my assumption is correct – in your place I would definitely not forgo continuing the stairs to the loft if a later expansion is planned anyway; whether it is a concrete or wooden staircase is a matter of taste. A retrofitting does not stand in reasonable relation to the costs incurred, not to mention the expected dirt.

Perhaps before you consider a later expansion, think about omitting the cellar; depending on the size of the semi-detached house, that is an amount in the range of EUR 30-40k – in most cases the cellar is only used as storage space anyway, that can also be a "tool room" adjacent to the garage.

Kind regards

Thank you very much for the quick response. Unfortunately, we cannot omit the basement (there are really reasons!), so we would rather do without the studio. It is also not intended to ever convert the roof, so the staircase could also be omitted. The seller is currently preparing the offer without expansion. For me, it is only about being able to better assess the offer. I am still not really experienced in house construction, even though I am reading a lot at the moment. Therefore, an assessment would be very helpful for me.

Hello,

thank you for the quick response. Unfortunately, we cannot do without the basement (there are really reasons for it!), so we would rather do without the studio. It is also not intended to ever convert the roof, so the staircase could also be omitted.

Sorry, but if you already do not trust the seller at this point in your consultation discussions – otherwise, why else, if not to check, are you asking about possible savings – you should refrain from further talks.

You did not mention the development stage of the attic in your first post, so I assume it was offered as "prepped for development". For 33 sqm, the discount should be in the range of EUR 5-7 thousand all in, including Velux windows and depending on the equipment.

Kind regards

If one assumes that this area was basically already included as living space, the actually correct costs should even be higher. Depending on the actual living area..and the required lighting number in the federal state.. there should have been at least 2-3 windows included.. depending on the size. Ultimately, it will not matter, because if the provider/contractor "calculates backwards" you will only be offered a part of the sales price anyway. This usually amounts to a factor of 0.9 to 0.8 of the production cost. This is of course by no means the sales price!

Hello Bauline,

...In the end, it doesn’t matter because if the provider/ general contractor "calculates backwards," you will only be offered a part of the selling price anyway. This usually amounts to a factor of 0.9 to 0.8 of the production cost. This, of course, is by no means the selling price!

With all due respect, this blanket statement is not correct.

If the entire industry worked like this, no sensible client would ever sign a contract because it would ultimately be based on nothing. In the bidding phase, the actually incurred lower prices are usually shown ;)

It is different – and here I gladly agree with you – if the contract has already been signed and the architect, structural engineer, and, for that matter, expert have already worked.

Kind regards