Estimation of construction time for the new build of a semi-detached house

Basically, the painter should also be able to create an offer based on the plan. He needs the area, substrate (which plaster and which quality level), and the desired services (e.g., [Malervlies]).

Book craftsmen as early as possible. They don't need finished walls for an offer. Of course, the price might change if the walls turn out to be worse than expected. Book tilers also as soon as possible. You search for a while, especially if you don't want to pay exorbitant prices. We recently looked for one, for months, many quoted prices beyond reason. Prices must always be fair for both sides in my opinion. Ultimately, they know that a construction site is hardly predictable. Especially painters and tilers, who are always among the last ones. Just reach out. Communicate openly that you only have a rough idea of the timeframe but will inform them as early as possible. I told our tiler in advance it would be approximately June or July (that was around March) and we agreed that I would let him know as soon as the screed was foreseeable. Then again when the screed was laid and then with the heating protocol – then we were fixed in the schedule.

No one talked about finished walls. But standing with the painter on the floor slab and getting an offer for painting the walls, I just find that somehow... strange. Especially since I would estimate that the painter doesn’t have to come this year anyway... even if the masonry is being done right now.

But standing with the painter on the floor slab and getting a quote for painting the walls, I just find that somehow... strange.

Of course, you can also conveniently sit at the desk. The painter makes his offer based on plans, and the bricklayer also follows these plans because the approval for his walls only applies according to these plans. That's how simple it is in practice.

No one talked about finished walls. But standing on the base slab with the painter and getting an offer for painting the walls, I just find that somehow... strange. Especially since I would estimate that the painter doesn’t have to come anymore this year... even if masonry work is currently being done.

Yes, that's exactly how it works. Why not. And what turns out differently than expected afterwards just has to be discussed again. In today's shortage of skilled workers, you can't start looking for a company 4 weeks before the trade. You do that months in advance.

We entered the property in April 2020, had the notary with the purchase contract in July, received the building permit at the end of September, and moved in in May 21. It works if you know the craftsmen on site and have a construction manager who knows what he's doing. Solid construction without a basement.