Have the construction contract checked / by whom? Is it necessary?

I see it differently. People work in construction. And where people work, mistakes can and will happen – no matter how reputable or local the construction partner is. I am not able to recognize these mistakes, and given the huge investment, I can sleep more peacefully if there is an expert involved who ideally has nothing to criticize. I also have great confidence in our construction company – otherwise, I wouldn’t have hired them. Nevertheless, in my opinion, the few euros are well invested considering the total amount.

For "prefabricated" houses - but only specialized in these - there is also the "prefabricated house expert" Tobias Beutler. You surely don't want to have a custom design built without an architect (?)

I see it differently. People work in construction. And where people work, mistakes can and will happen – no matter how reputable or local the construction partner is. I am not able to recognize these errors, and given the huge investment, I can sleep more peacefully if there is a specialist involved who ideally has nothing to criticize. I also have great confidence in our construction company – otherwise I wouldn’t have hired them. Nevertheless, in my opinion, the few euros are well invested considering the total amount.

But it’s not specifically about contract review... In my opinion, everyone can check that independently.

Construction supervision... yes, I don’t think much of it either. I saw it with my neighbor. He was there 3 times in total and just makes his statements about things you already noticed yourself or have already been informed about by the general contractor (GU).

Your construction supervisor does not stand on your construction site every week and watch every step...

If the general contractor (GU) has good references and works with proper trades, then there is already a certain level of trust involved. There is much less "junk" going on.

But your construction supervisor only sees what he SEES. He ultimately does not see everything that is hidden underneath or anything like that. In my opinion, with a house build, you must be able to trust the GU (logically also the craftsmen in this case), otherwise you can forget about building the house.

That is why my motto is: Carefully choose the general contractor, check the trades, references, etc., then have a lot of trust and keep checking repeatedly. In my opinion, you can see a lot yourself if you deal with the topic a bit.

Sorry, but this is a recipe for frustration and many tears.

Check the construction contract only with expertise. So a specialist lawyer or at least owner’s advisor.

Inspect the building only with expertise. So a building expert or at least an architect, civil engineer, or master craftsman with a lot of experience.

How often he comes depends on the contract. There should be at least 10 appointments. At the critical points, so that nothing is installed where he cannot look afterwards...

Even if the general contractor were your brother. Only with experts as construction supervisors. Because the general contractor has subs who work on their own account and owe you no accountability, at most the general contractor.

Sorry, but this is a recipe for frustration and many tears. Check the construction contract only with expertise. So a specialist lawyer or at least a client advisor. Check the building only with expertise. So a construction expert or at least an architect, civil engineer, or master craftsman with a lot of experience. How often he comes depends on the contract. At least 10 appointments should be scheduled. At the critical points, nothing will be installed that he cannot check afterwards... Even if the general contractor is your brother. Only with experts as construction supervisors. Because the general contractor has subs who work on their own account and do not owe you, but at best the general contractor, accountability.

Exaggerate... You also have to honestly tell the original poster what is "normal" or what he can/should/must do. Sorry, but contract review and construction supervision are not normal. In our new development, I only know two people who have done that (80 homeowners). Strangely enough, these two people are still not finished after what feels like 1 1/2 years :D I have heard very few complaints from the neighbors, etc. - mostly only from the people who had such construction supervision. The general contractor is of course not a fan of that either... In my opinion, this can also negatively affect the relationship with the general contractor. But yes... it is also a matter of character. Mostly very cautious people make use of this (which is basically not wrong), but this can also not only have positive effects during the construction process. I think you can manage quite well without it. Mistakes happen, they also happen with construction supervision. In 90% of cases it is resolved EVEN WITHOUT construction supervision --> Therefore: choose the RIGHT general contractor who strives to do so, has proper trades, and properly supervises the construction. Therefore always look at references, see which general contractors build in the area, and get the general contractor locally... He and usually all trades (in our case all come from within 20 km) have an image to uphold - this has an extremely positive effect on the construction here.

I have heard very few complaints from the neighbors etc. – mostly only from the people who had such construction supervision.

Yes, of course, because some don’t know what went wrong for them, others do and are now doing something about it.

The general contractor (GU) is of course not a fan of that... In my opinion, it can also negatively affect the relationship with the GU.

That wouldn’t speak well for the GU. As I said, the GU also benefits when an expert watches the subs closely. He does have his own site manager, but four eyes see more, and above all, the site manager also has to consider long-term relationships with the subs. If he can say, yes sorry, the client’s expert wants it that way, he can nicely pass it off.

I think you can manage pretty well without it, too.

You believe that. You don’t see all the mistakes or you’re just very lucky.

Mistakes happen, they also happen with construction supervision. In 90% of cases, they are solved even WITHOUT construction supervision.

No, it’s more like you don’t even notice 70% of them. Maybe 50% of those get fixed and 50% of those are done properly and technically correct. The 30% you notice get corrected with a lot of fuss so that the client sees how careful the GU is. Of those, maybe 80% are technically and professionally correct – if you’re lucky.

Therefore: choose the RIGHT GU who puts in the effort, has reliable trades, and manages the construction properly.

How is a layperson without expertise supposed to judge that?

Therefore always check references, see which GUs build in the area, and get a regional GU... He and usually all trades (with us all coming from within a 20 km radius) have a reputation to uphold – which has an extremely positive effect on our construction.

That is true, but it doesn’t help against fraud later on.

Again, and I’m sorry to be so brutally frank here, but when dealing with a total volume of well over half a million, it really seems borderline stupid to want to save maybe 4,000 EUR in expert fees.
It’s nice that you believe you got along well without it, but you can’t seriously recommend that to prospective builders.