House construction - Many fundamental questions before building!!

Hello house builder,

my better half and I might want to have a house built. We have seen an apparently great offer for a project in Cologne and had some questions explained to us by the company, so I have a few questions:

- We are supposed to buy a plot of land from the land trading company, which somehow belongs to the company, which will be ideally divided and used under a special usage right, in order to then be obliged to have our semi-detached house built by the construction company Hildmann.
-> Is this approach "normal" or unusual? I will become the builder, which I actually want to avoid because I have zero knowledge about it. It's better for the company because their risk is smaller. At first, I don't benefit from this?!

The semi-detached house is supposed to be legally and technically "ours," so nothing with joint liability for the other half, everyone is only responsible for their half or their house, for example, the house has no continuous walls and is completely separated by walls and insulation (according to the catalog).
-> Does this mean that if the construction company goes bankrupt, I can theoretically and if I still have money take care of my house construction myself without having to ask or coordinate with the land community, or is this dependent on a WEG regulation?

- If the development plan and building permit are available (should be), does this mean that the plot has also been checked for pollutants, rocks, etc., or can there still be a (cost) trap lurking here where, in the worst case, building is not allowed/can't take place?

- To whom should I take the contract to have it reviewed and to show and explain the risks to me? Consumer advice, lawyer, expert, construction advisor? Does anyone have a tip for Cologne?

- Are there any long-term experiences with communal heating systems using pellets, whether the mentioned costs for administration, maintenance, pellets, etc., seem realistic or whether the operator, who gets a contract for 20 years, can/may set the prices at will?

I will surely think of more questions, but I believe these are the most important :)

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

We have seen an apparently great offer for a project in Cologne

Meaning?

- we are supposed to buy a plot of land from the Grundstückhandelsgesellschaft, which somehow belongs to the company, and the plot will ideally be divided and used under a special usage right, in order to then be obliged to build our semi-detached house together with the construction company Hildmann. Is this way "normal" or unusual? I will become the builder, which I actually want to avoid because I have zero knowledge about it. It is better for the company because their risk becomes smaller. I personally have nothing from it at first?!

You are always the builder unless you buy a finished object. Why special usage rights? We currently have a project in Cologne – a three-unit building – where each party has their own area without the need for special usage rights. What you definitely "have on your hands" is property transfer tax on land + house of 5%.

The semi-detached house is supposed to be legally and technically "ours," so nothing with joint liability for the other half; everyone is only responsible for their own half or their own house. For example, the house has no continuous walls and is completely separated by walls and insulation (according to the catalog).
-> Does that mean that if the construction company goes bankrupt, I can (theoretically and if I still have money) take care of building my house myself without having to ask or coordinate with the land community, or is it dependent on a WEG regulation?

I would suspect: both. To give more precise information here, I would have to know the contract for work or notary contract including annexes.

- If the development plan and building permit exist (which they should), does that mean the plot was also checked for pollutants, rocks, etc., or can there still be a (cost) trap lurking here, in the worst case that building is not allowed/cannot be done?

You will only know that exactly when the results of the soil survey are available. If it has already been prepared in advance, the seller should be able to provide information.

- To whom should I go with the contract to have it reviewed and to show and explain the risks to me? Consumer advice, lawyer, expert, building consultant? Does anyone have a tip for Cologne?

Both are possible; it is primarily a question of cost.

I will certainly think of more questions, but I believe those are the most important ones :)

Then you should not forget to ask the seller. Without exact knowledge of the contract circumstances – contract for work or notarial contract, content etc. – your questions can hardly be answered even now ;)

Kind regards