Floor plan planning shortly before submitting the building application

I see the mistake (on both sides) here rather as having taken the risk of combining two things: the original poster wanted a proper "architect’s house," i.e., with a lot of individuality even in the details;

You described my orientation correctly. And I had the same concerns after the conversation with the general contractor (GC) and also with other GCs. The GC then "talked me out of it" or convinced me by saying that he was not a classic GC but specifically for customers like me who wanted a lot of individuality, they had their own architects and there were no disadvantages compared to a freelance architect, only afterward the advantages of the routine construction of single-family homes that a solid house provider offers. So, despite these concerns, I was actively courted and convinced to sign there.

I am less than an hour’s drive from the GC’s headquarters, without knowing any upset customers. What they usually do is somewhat more "home-style cooking" — but then in all price ranges.

I see it the same way. I also haven’t heard anything negative and we visited some references and talked to them.

I can very well imagine that the GC has never had a construction site with so many critical details and must think to himself, "Usually, the customers are satisfied, here maybe the client or his expert is overreacting."

You can assume that. They told me shortly before signing the construction contract that they had never had a client where so many options of additional and reduced services were incorporated. I don’t believe they harbor any resentment against me. I think they are quite tolerant when it comes to handling complaints. They can handle it, and I also heard that it sometimes works similarly on other projects (statements like "Otherwise, people only call when there’s something to complain about" when I once said something positive).

From my point of view, two parties have come together here, at least one of whom should better have said "no" (which both probably couldn’t have foreseen).

On the one hand, I can partially agree with that for my side, but on the other hand, I don’t feel like I would definitely have done better elsewhere. It probably really depends on the GC model. The architect there, who is quasi half freelance there, told me recently he had to massively adjust to standards (for example, concerning the patio doors — he was told what to plan as standard initially). But the fact is, we were very, very open to such an architect solution from the beginning but, despite various contacts, did not manage to realize it. So it is as it is now, and not everything is bad either.

Would the GC say no today? I don’t know. So far, he has basically been able to ride it out/solve everything well, and I see no significant reduction in his margins. On the contrary — he will have substantial deductions with the shell builder, which I cannot pass on or only partially pass on.

I neither find that funny nor appropriate, nor is it allowed; but it fits with your overall behavior here.

This is not my intention either. For me, it is always about a content-related and professional exchange here, never about discrediting companies or specific individuals. That is far from my mind.

Quote: All rip-off artists. So ideal conditions to bring the construction contract to a reasonable conclusion.

After your statement, I reflected on what was written again for myself and would like to address it once more. My statement certainly cannot stand as it was. In particular, I want to emphasize that the GC is not to be counted among them. There are things about him that annoyed me greatly and that did not go well. But I never had the feeling that they are rip-off artists. Therefore, I should not have written that so generally. I find the prices fair. Also, additions after contract conclusion were fair, as far as I could partially check. Well, I would have wished for a bit more leniency or sometimes an outstretched hand where points could perhaps have been handled better by both sides, but otherwise, I think they are serious and fair.

My statement actually referred "only" to the interior fitter and I wrongly generalized it. I just hate it when you sign a contract, qualify services, and then someone tries to renegotiate by disparaging other services without being able to qualify and explain them properly. That is rip-off for me, but I have that less with the GC — I only have the feeling of poor organization/chaos in the process and construction supervision and a lack of hints/questions in the planning.

Has the blower door test happened yet?

It was supposed to come in two and a half weeks. I pushed a bit and now they’re coming on Wednesday.

To accuse the layman of having chosen the wrong specialist, I consider nonsense. How should he know that the specialist is overestimating himself?

I agree. As I wrote at the beginning, they even bragged a bit and were proud of their own company. If I see what they have built up there, it deserves respect from a certain distance. I have to say that too, because it’s not all just black or white.

The general contractor "can" do something different, however: standard, standard superior, and standard exquisite – each preferably also with floor plans with their own inspirations, but still within shouting distance of the standard...

As serious as the situation is, I really have to hold myself back here... too wonderful, brilliantly worded....!

Accusing the layman of having chosen the wrong expert, on the other hand, I consider nonsense. How should he know that the expert is overestimating himself?

I did not accuse the layman of that, I said: "...which both probably could not have anticipated)." And I also think of the expert here that, thanks to previous clients with a different understanding of individuality, he would have sincerely thought he could be "individual." And maybe he still thinks so and attributes all the trouble to "having had bad luck with the new shell builder."

so wonderful, brilliantly phrased....!

Every word there is meant exactly that way. Their "normal individual" probably moves within the framework of stucco ceiling imitation, whirlpool instead of bathtub, asymmetrical gable roof and the like. In several decades, no unsolvable special request will have come up for him, so why should he doubt his competence? If I remember correctly, both the internal contract architect changed here and a new shell builder was tried. One could have reacted more professionally to the mishap with the old plan to the energy supplier. But I see no professional self-overestimator here, one whom the building world should be warned about.

But I don't see here a commercial overconfident person that the construction world would have to be warned about.

I don’t see that either and that’s why it doesn’t happen.

If I remember correctly, both the internal contract architect changed here and a new shell constructor was tried out.

Yes, that was really strange. First of all, they had a freelance architect who did our design planning. I think they very quickly realized that he also worked like a freelance architect and that he partly planned significantly over budget. I don’t remember exactly how it specifically came about, but afterwards we suddenly had to deal with two different employed architects from them who completed the design planning. One was only briefly involved for a meeting and was then reassigned after he made a design that not only negated the previous progress with the first architect but created a plan that was completely off from our ideas. The third person somehow managed to finish it, although I believe we caused more meetings and more effort than other builders. But they were always patient with us.

The first architect has now entered into a new company with the general contractor, whose business purpose is architectural planning. He has now taken over the interior architecture planning for us in some detail questions. Recently, as I said, he told me that he had to learn a lot at the general contractor and had to adjust extremely. Various standards had to be mentioned here – probably so that the necessary synergy effects for a general contractor can be achieved.

Well, the same problem then occurred with the architect who does the execution planning. Completely different people handle that in-house. There was back and forth as well. One started with us, then he was sick many times, and I partly had to explain things again to the other that had long been discussed. Then the recovered one took over again and at some point wrote an email to the customers that he was leaving the company immediately and wished everyone the best with the further construction process. So the other came back into the race…

These are just not great prerequisites. But I see neither intent nor malice but simply partly chaos, also bad luck with the personnel for the general contractor and the like… well and that despite the expressed wish by the other reference builders, we did not get the highly praised site manager but another one, I think that did not contribute to a perfect process either. But of course, there is no entitlement to the requested site manager. I should have had that included in the contract but I was actually sure they would take him since by that time it was already clear to me that our house was somewhat special for them (not just the house, probably also the builder, so I didn’t want to risk anything with the general contractor). I would have liked to have the most experienced one.

Therefore, as I said, I see it sportively.

After the roofer was here, I thought today, at the first rain since then, I should take a look in the basement and then I see this disaster here!



Water is dripping from the newly installed copper pipes. However, it occurs only in connection with the rain. Could the water possibly be finding its way through the multiservice conduit into the copper pipes? I can’t reach anyone today who can help with this? Simply terrible!!!!

Oh dear
Nothing is really going well for you