House construction costs 2024, summary and experiences

Hello everyone

We finished building the house (without the outdoor facilities) in winter 24/25. I am summarizing the story here with a few details and information about costs and the process.... also as experience and information for those planning to build a house. I would also like to hear your opinion on the construction costs so far (see below) and maybe your experience for comparison. Honestly, I don’t know if we paid a reasonable price or if we were somewhat ripped off.

We built a turnkey, sustainable, and QNG+ certified prefabricated house with a construction company from Lower Franconia, KfW40+, not a show house but individually planned, although not an architectural masterpiece. Wood structure, 142 sqm living space, 2 full floors, hip roof, attic as storage space but not expandable.

As mentioned: turnkey, because both of us work and have no clue about house building in self-performance mode.

Construction start 04.2024, construction end 10.2024 with key handover (actually fast)
The quality was praised by the company as medium to high.
Here are a few details:
142 sqm living space, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Floor slab included in the price
Ventilation system by Fr. Wolf
Heat pump also Wolf
Photovoltaic system with 10.5 kW battery storage
Windows: floor-to-ceiling units in all rooms, triple glazing, security windows RC2, total window area approx. 39 sqm
In the basement external venetian blinds, in the upper floor roller shutters, electric
The basement is tiled, 60x60 cm tiles, price: €58.5 / sqm
In the upper floor laminate, medium durability class
Bathrooms: basement approx 10 sqm, tiles 60x60cm and 120x60 for €58.5 / sqm and €90 / sqm (shower) the shower is barrier-free, 1 x 1.5 m area, shower partition made of glass
Bathroom upper floor also approx 10 sqm, tiles 60x120 cm up to ceiling, shower as above + bathtub
No recirculation system
No smart home
Wooden staircase: oak, wooden handrail, glass stair wall
Interior doors standard white
Front door: solid wood

House price: 506,000
The construction company also took care of the drainage system up to the sewer, for which they charged 6k
Architect and structural engineer 8.5k, whereby the floor plan was practically sketched by an architect from the family circle, who lives abroad, so the official signature was from an architect in Germany.

Total house construction costs (without outdoor facilities, other earthworks, carport/garage, land, further ancillary costs, etc.) 520k, thus approx. €3600/sqm in the year 2024.

We were told the price was average, but I still find it high and despite above-average incomes, barely manageable with the current interest rates. Prices of about €3000/sqm for construction are repeatedly mentioned.

Now comes the outdoor facilities and I am optimistically calculating that in the end we will land at about €5000/sqm (here with house, outdoor facilities, ancillary costs, land, and hopefully carport) and all in the Rhön.

Best regards
M.

Honestly, I don't find it expensive for a turnkey house. You have a KfW40 house and a large photovoltaic system and, as you yourself say, good equipment. I find the price reasonable.

We were told the price was average, but I still find it high and despite above-average incomes, barely manageable with the current interest rates. Prices around 3000/m2 for construction are repeatedly mentioned.

Rarely do people report so objectively about the costs of building a house. That helps others here a lot. Many brag about having come off particularly cheaply. Don’t get confused by some square meter prices. Your house was built quickly, apparently quite budget-friendly, and if the quality is right, you have invested very well. If it somehow reassures you – we also didn’t come close to the quoted square meter prices with our build in 2018/19.

Rarely do people report so objectively about the costs of building a house. That really helps others here. Many boast about having come through particularly cheaply. (...)

To be honest, I don’t see what’s wrong with mentioning that it can also be done much more cheaply. But it is a lot of work, and above all physically very demanding, if you do a lot yourself. That should not be forgotten. Apparently, no hand was lifted here. Completely okay, but very, very expensive.

I am somewhat puzzled that this example is considered "slightly above standard" here. After all, we’re talking about venetian blinds, many of them, expensive RC2 windows, apparently all floor-to-ceiling, the basement fully tiled with tiles costing 60 EUR/m², stairs with a glass partition, etc. That should already be in the top 10% regarding the fittings. The fact that there is no KNX included now is forgiven...

What is supposed to be so particularly expensive about the Rhön region, however, is not clear to me. I am occasionally on business in Bad Neustadt an der Saale, which is nearby, and from what they tell me there about land prices and industry, this is not exactly Germany’s boom region.

I am a bit puzzled that this example here is rated as "slightly above standard".

Where exactly does it say "slightly above standard"? It is above standard. Period.

Why do people make two identical posts?

https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/hausbaukosten-2024-zusammenfassung-und-erfahrung.49029/

https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/hausbau-kostenuebersicht-2024-erfahrung-und-zusammenfassung.49030/