House building for nerds - experiences wanted!

Hello dear forum members,

A few weeks ago, you already helped me with good advice. It turned out that building a house for €400,000 without significant equity in the countryside of BW would be rather difficult. However, some also encouraged me.

Now, surprisingly, equity of €100,000 has come up in the form of an early inheritance. I want to build in 3 to 4 years and would thus have the possibility to build for €500,000 to €550,000 with my total income. A little saving is also possible in the meantime.

Now, due to family reasons, I am a real nerd... I (all of us in my family) always have the great need to get the possibly perfect optimum for our hard-earned money. That is not always an advantage... And because we then think we are good at something, we prefer to do it ourselves...

Therefore, I am now specifically addressing the nerds among you. Who has built with an architect (possibly only phases 1-5) and separate trades contracts and also contributed a lot of their own work? How long was the planning phase? How long the pure construction time? I want to find a plot of land in the next 12-24 months and in the meantime and afterwards think intensively about what I want and need. For me, this includes reading intensively into many areas (technology, architecture, building materials, etc.). Additionally, there is help from the family, as we are currently lifting a house and renovating it almost in our own work. Due to the long lead time, I hope to have plenty of time to make decisions, get craftsmen, etc.

Now, let's be honest. Who has built like this? Were you able to save costs with this approach? A general contractor or a prefabricated house is actually out of the question for me. I want to have free choice and decision-making power (especially regarding materials and equipment).

Oh, and I understand everyone who does not want or cannot build like this! Unfortunately, I would feel very restricted by a general contractor. The same applies to fittings of prefabricated houses. Some just want a house. That is ok! Therefore, I especially hope for answers from builders who are as crazy as I am.

Thanks!

Then I'll raise a finger regarding the architect and individual contracting. You first need the plot of land. Then the suitable design for the house. Of course, you should already know what you need or want. You can save money with individual contracting, but above all, you can implement more individualized wishes. Planning is 80% of the construction. From others I know that the planning time was about 1 year. For us, due to a few delays and special requirements, it was almost two years. If everything works out, we will start in two weeks. At least now the rubble from the old house is gone.

Therefore, I am now specifically addressing the nerds among you. Who has built with an architect (possibly only phases 1-5) and individual trade contracts, and also contributed quite a bit of their own work? How long was the planning time? How long the actual construction time?

We completed phases 1-5 with the architect and then, or in parallel, awarded the trades ourselves. There is little own work involved; my wife basically doesn’t trust me with that, and I don’t need the stress.
The planning time was about 12 months.
Another 3 months passed until the start of construction.
It started at the beginning of September 18.
We will move in July 19.
Due to the complex terrain, the earthworks including the foundation slab took almost 6 months.

Now, hand on heart. Who has built like this? Were you able to save costs with this approach?

Hand on heart: did we save costs with this approach – no. We are clearly spending more.
As you write, we are not dependent on material specifications and often choose – let’s say – not the cheapest option. In this way, significant additional costs arise that would not have occurred with a pragmatic construction method. One of many examples: Sicis mosaic for a feature wall in the bathroom. You won’t get that from a general contractor or prefab house manufacturer. Surely we don’t pay the architect for the later phases – but that does not compensate for our behavior in any way.
Since the completion of the foundation slabs, site management has run absolutely according to plan. The tradesmen are top-notch, know each other, and come from the region. The focus here was “quality and quiet execution” rather than “lowest price”. That is more expensive but pays off for us.

Whether extra spending or money “saved”: I am convinced that with this approach you have a much greater influence on the price/performance ratio. And that is what interests you in the end, right?

Now, due to family reasons, I am a real nerd... I (all of us in my family) always have the great need to get the best possible optimum for our hard-earned money.

Then you are very likely in the wrong place here.

This forum is mainly aimed at good payers who do not scrutinize every penny and every trade with eagle eyes. Craftsmen are allowed to make mistakes sometimes... the main thing is that they get corrected again. (We know the craftsmen and know how solution-oriented these gentlemen generally are ). And even if the mistakes are not corrected or only after endless begging, still remain calm, composed, and always very friendly.

According to many statements here in the forum, building is only for compromise-ready builders.

Therefore, my tip; don’t take everything in this forum too seriously and keep your eyes open elsewhere as well.

Other than that, I wish you lots and lots of luck! It will work out.

P.S.: Since you have experience in renovation and apparently also good people at hand, better look for an existing property. It will probably be easier than building land at a "fair" price.

Individual contracting can save a lot of money. Your approach is very good, I believe this is the best way to build a house. Unfortunately, everyday life does not allow many people to follow this approach.

Unfortunately, everyday life does not allow many people to follow this approach.

True, it is time-consuming. You have to be able to set priorities.

This forum is mainly aimed at good payers who do not scrutinize every penny and every trade with hawk eyes. Craftsmen are allowed to make mistakes sometimes... the main thing is that they get corrected. (We know the craftsmen and know how solution-oriented they generally are ). And even if the mistakes are not corrected or only after endless begging, you should still remain calm, composed, and always very friendly.

There is the non-builder who tirelessly paints a dubious picture of craftsmen, does not want to believe good experiences, considers the ability to reach consensus a weakness, and attributes a fat wallet to calm builders. His tip not to take everything so seriously is valuable in this sense.