Earthworks: In addition to the signed offer, is there also a contract?

My husband discussed every item and talked about any possible additional costs. It still seems reasonable to him. In addition, out of more than 10 earthworks companies, only 4 responded, one of them with "no available capacity." So unfortunately, we don't really have a choice.

It is good to record what has been discussed in a written note - always with the addition: "If I have accidentally misunderstood you, please correct me."

It is good to record what has been discussed in a written note - always with the addition: "If I have misunderstood you by accident, please correct me."

It's a pity that there is only one like here.

We accepted the offer from our excavator months ago and he said we were lucky to have accepted the offer so long ago. It only got slightly more expensive because the insulation in the floor slab was missing in the initial calculation. After the corrections, it was very affordable and very good work (according to our expert). Our heating & sanitary installer has already announced that it will be more expensive (our installation appointment has been postponed significantly). We will know how much once the installation appointment is finally set.

... (our installation date has been pushed very far back). How much do we know when the installation date is finally set.

What is the reason that the installation date was postponed, even far postponed?

What is the reason that the installation appointment was postponed, even postponed by a long time?

It was not postponed in that sense, because it was never fixed. Based on the information from the house provider / building authority, we calculated an approximate installation date. For example, the building authority said it would definitely not take longer than 3 months, but it actually took 4 (so already one month more). Then the structural analysis and thermal insulation certificate took almost 9 weeks instead of 4 - 6 weeks. Only then did the foundation slab plan arrive. The surveyor for the fine staking could only measure 2 weeks later, and the earthworks contractor could only start about 2 weeks after that. So everything piled up like that. As laypeople, we just assumed faster processes. And the house only goes into the execution planning after the foundation slab measurement – we are currently waiting for that. But the architect is so busy that it now takes 3 to 4 weeks instead of one.

And due to the high demand, the production (including waiting time) actually takes 16 weeks instead of the stated 12 - 16 weeks.

We are relatively relaxed but would finally like to know when it will really start.