GU - final deadline - what questions should we still ask?

Until when are changes to exterior and interior walls possible, when does the general contractor need the connection plan for the kitchen

I am annoyed, for example, that I let myself be brushed off regarding the design of the underfloor heating in the final meeting. My wish had been: underfloor heating in rooms X/Y/Z and a supply temperature of 30°C according to the design DIN 12831.

I was then brushed off with the explanation that it would all be done and I shouldn't worry. The heating installer would have brought his standard by himself, but definitely not the calculation.

Basically, we also negotiated a few extras, such as plastered exterior walls in residential-like basement rooms and reduced the costs by a small percentage.

I have to say that I had already derived the ancillary costs very precisely and in detail and also got the craftsmen/wholesalers to provide them to me. This way, we were able to estimate the additions for doors, bathroom, and electrical installation quite accurately. However, I had completely underestimated the prices for the recessed pots of the ceiling recessed spotlights (=spots) – you can easily spend 2,000€ and still not even have the lamps.

We then received a detailed schedule with "Who has to do/decide what and when" to prepare for the first site manager meeting.

I would ask to be shown the schedule and all the drawings: if there are no more beyond the plans for the building application, the subcontractors – especially those who are involved for the first time – each do the details according to their respective Immerso method, then it ends up crawling with drywall bumps everywhere.

We all then stand up, shake hands on what was said, done. I will now prepare the building application, please come next Tuesday to sign it. Both. K.

When I think of the special favorite of (or even just of Heinz von Heiden ), I cautiously express some remaining doubts that the general contractors are all neatly cut from the pattern of the honorable Holstein horse trader.

The final appointment went for us like this.

Sounds pretty smooth and uncomplicated

I would ask...

Great, exactly the kind of things I meant!

The question about the start date is a good one, after all I also have to plan the sale of our current house!

The additional duties of the builder are also noted immediately!

I really wouldn’t have thought about whether you are allowed to exchange trades!!

For me, these questions somehow don’t fit with a final appointment.

Sorry, "final" may not have been the right word, I wanted to adjust the title right after posting because I already thought it might cause confusion. Unfortunately, I could no longer change the title of the thread.

We had several talks with the GU, but no clear "we are building with you" communicated yet, since we were still in talks with two others.

Tomorrow we want to give the go-ahead that we have chosen the GU. We have the costs for the house and the additional construction costs the site manager already prepared us for verbally. But we haven’t finalized anything else and that should happen tomorrow.

I’m annoyed, for example, that

I’ll note the lead-in temperatures as well. If tomorrow is too early for that, I’ll know for next time!

The previous selection appointment is also a great tip, I’ll ask whether that is possible.

I will also note the thing about the flow temperatures. If it’s too early for that tomorrow, I’ll know for next time!

The tip about the prior sampling is also great; I’ll ask whether that’s possible.

It’s never too early for this topic. If you’re building with a heat pump, it’s important. See, for example, the current topics in the heating area. Everywhere it’s the same with too cold bathrooms and cycling heat pumps or extremely high consumption. Often this is a problem with the design of the heating circuits. Then it must be specified that a room-by-room heat load calculation is done, handed over to the builder, and a design of the heating circuits is carried out. All according to DIN 12831 and flow temperature e.g. 30°C.

The thing with the samplings definitely works. Why shouldn’t it? The only risk for the general contractor is that you negotiate the additional costs with him included in the house price – as partly happened with us. Without that option, I would have also made it clear to our general contractor that there are other fish in the sea.

For me, final means that previously the house, equipment, general location on the property, price have actually been clarified. Both, customer and BU, go to this appointment knowing that the contract is de facto awarded. Now it's about details. Start, application, mason’s plan for the kitchen builder with connections, etc. pp. That is clarified there. Building without a contract by handshake was certainly not the rule in 2020, but it still exists in rural areas, it's a question of honour to adhere to what has been agreed. Applies to both parties.