Experiences with construction companies in Berlin and surrounding areas (approx. 50 km)

I was spontaneously at FIBAV yesterday. I was positively surprised. The sales representative took a lot of time (from 7 pm to 10 pm). He also addressed all my wishes but also raised his objections to certain things. We first talked about three things:
- Floor slab (including WU concrete, underneath a capillary-breaking layer of 22cm thick gravel-sand mixture)
- Exterior walls (24cm hollow bricks + 12cm insulation + 2cm plaster)
- Windows (fiberglass; approved as windows for passive houses; company Brömse)

Since with my wishes (air-to-water heat pump, photovoltaic system and possibly controlled residential ventilation) and their construction method I reach KfW 40plus, the offer will be for a KfW 40plus house. It was recommended to switch from air-to-water heat pump to geothermal energy instead, which has a lower extra cost but pays off in incidental costs. (can you say something about geothermal > air-to-water heat pump?)

What I also noticed positively:
- The sales representative listed many costs that will come extra to us. Among others, a crane place, since the house is to be built about 15m from the street.
- A North TÜV construction supervisor is included in the standard price for the construction phases: ready-for-roof shell including roof truss, window installation stage, screed insulation stage, completion. However, I already mentioned that I would like to hire an external one.
- The company Vaillant supplies the heating, photovoltaic system, controlled residential ventilation
- The offer comes including floor plan drawing and side views from the architects
- We went through all windows and always chose the most expensive variants, so that in the end it does not become more expensive
- The sales representative also mentioned things that are not good in the standard equipment at the company and that one should definitely have a buffer during the sample selection.
- There was a 20-page construction description and a few more brochures.

What will actually be implemented in the end:
- 140 sqm bungalow
- Kfw 40plus
- Geothermal energy
- Photovoltaic system (about 3kwp) costs 19,000 € including battery (2kw) with them. I find it a bit much. I have removed it and will commission it externally if we hire FIBAV.
- Smart home (control of underfloor heating, blinds, Alexa and Google compatible, alarm system, opening of windows/doors shown via app, etc.)
- Large rainwater tank (buried)
- Room height 3.0m
- Controlled residential ventilation (central)
- Chimney shaft

Estimated with increased values, we came to about 300,000 € (budget is 350,000 €; about 20,000 € of that for the photovoltaic system).

And now I am looking forward to your suggestions/criticism

Nice to read that things are moving forward directly

I’m curious whether it will stay at [300.000€], since you have chosen some extras.

Sounds good, now you have someone who is suitable, now while everything is still fresh, take notes - what was good/not so good/bad - open questions - constantly add to the notes if you then have several offers, construction service descriptions and your notes, choose one and go through the project with them, you should politely decline the others, maybe you will need them sometime. Regards Nida

Nice to read that things are progressing directly

I'm curious whether it will stay at €300,000, as you have chosen some extras.

We will see. It was just roughly calculated. I'll just let myself be surprised. Since we get €30,000 as a gift through kfw 40plus (not planned), the budget might be slightly increased.

What do you think about the windows, walls, and the construction of the floor slab? Is that standard? From my point of view, these are the most important things that you either cannot change at all or can only change very expensively.

Yes, I did. Thank you very much

It was recommended to switch from an air-water heat pump to geothermal energy, which has a lower additional cost but pays off in the ancillary costs. (can you say something about geothermal energy > air-water heat pump?)

Not a bad idea.

- The salesperson listed many costs that will come extra for us, including a crane pad, since the house is to be built about 15m from the street.

Yes, that’s true and there will definitely be other things that even he hasn’t thought of.

- The standard price includes a Nord TÜV construction supervisor for the building phases: shell completion including roof structure, window installation stage, screed insulation stage, completion. But I already mentioned that I would like to hire an external one.

If you yourself have little knowledge of the subject, then definitely do so. The construction supervisor from the general contractor is often overloaded. With everything that goes with it.

- Smart home (control of underfloor heating, roller shutters, Alexa and Google compatible, alarm system, opening of windows/doors is shown via app, etc.)

Which system? That is a very broad field and especially in the current boom period there are many players around.

- large rainwater tank (buried)

This is often a naïve calculation. I would definitely take another look here and compare all costs.

Estimated with increased values we came to about €300,000

That actually seems very cheap to me for everything you list here. So either the substance and quality are being saved on or there will be sums with many more zeros added on top.

I'll do a rough calculation:

- Standard price for their 148 sqm bungalow €230,000 (Our house will be 140 sqm)
- €40,000 kfw 40 (geothermal, controlled residential ventilation, underfloor heating)
- €20,000 photovoltaic system (will be contracted externally) = kfw 40plus
- €12,000 smart home (Somfy)
- €6,000 rain barrel (set very high)
- €3,000 room height increase to 3.0m
= €311,000

Because it will be kfw40plus, there is a bit more leeway.