Final invoice for shell construction (200 sqm, clinker, without basement, roof) ok?

Of course there was an offer, but it was exceeded by 10% compared to the final invoice for the above services. How am I supposed to assess this?

Once again a prime example for everyone who thinks that awarding contracts individually instead of to a general contractor will save even a cent in the end.

The maximum permissible overrun from offer to invoice depending on the case, justification, and court is between 10-25%. Your shell construction contractor is "only" 10%, so on the safe side.

But that doesn’t help you at all now: suppose someone comes along and writes, "wow, that could easily have been done with 200 fewer hours." What do you do with that information? Go to the shell contractor and say, "I read on the internet that this can be done with 200 fewer hours, now please correct your invoice!"?

I'll just take the liberty: *clears throat* Wow, that could easily have been done with 200 hours less!

But seriously - a few more working hours and slightly more expensive material are easy to argue away. In my opinion, it's not worth making a fuss or even going to court over. Overall, the price looks reasonably realistic, and if the work has been carried out properly, all the better.

Once again a prime example for all those who think that awarding contracts individually instead of to a general contractor saves even a cent in the end.

So we saved 50,000 euros because of it :).

Once again a prime example for all those who think that by awarding contracts individually instead of to a general contractor (GU) they will save even a cent in the end.

The maximum permissible overrun from offer to invoice is, depending on the case, justification, and court, between 10-25%. Your structural builder is "only" at 10%, so on the safe side.

But that doesn't help you now: suppose someone comes here and writes: "Wow, that could easily have been done with 200 fewer hours." What do you do with that information? Go to the structural builder and say "I read on the internet that this can be done with 200 fewer hours, so please correct your invoice now!"?

Nope, first it’s about an assessment. For everything else you need experts anyway. But there is a difference between feeling cheated and everything roughly fitting. Otherwise: individual awarding of contracts does not necessarily aim at saving money; it’s also about having contact persons you trust (which has worked very well so far). Where you are uncertain, you should ask questions to be able to sleep well.

Compared to our EP, everything is cheaper with you and we already live in a rather inexpensive region in northern Germany. Currently, everyone here charges at least €49.80 / hour plus VAT.

That went badly. With such a breakdown of the offer into material and labor hours, the shell builder apparently applauded behind your back.

Honestly, this disadvantage only occurs to me now in your offer preparation. As a layperson, I would have signed something like that too.

But we actually have it a bit more customer-friendly in the offer. Position y: Quantity x including installation = Total z

Our shell builder asked how the offer should be written,

1. Flat rate total sum.
2. as described above
3. or like yours.

When asked, I was as clueless as a cow staring at a mountain and looked at my architect questioningly.

How do you want to prove it to him? That he possibly cheated you?

I can only speak for our shell construction of 140 sqm with a cast 70 sqm waterproof basement and kfw55; the two workers took exactly 11 weeks from the first excavation of the pit and setting the L-shaped stones to the finished shell including the gable. After one more day, the roof was covered. So this state



But honestly, what you list is not a shell. Therefore, it's difficult to assess. Also in comparison to my time estimate.