How much should an energy consultant cost?

Dear Home Builders,

we intend to buy an older house that is to be fundamentally renovated.
The offer from KFW (grant and low-interest loan) is very interesting for us, which is why we have engaged an energy consultant. We have now received 2 cost proposals,

It is still open whether we aim for the individual measures package (KFW loan up to 50,000 EUR) or the KfW program 151 (up to 100,000 EUR) is an option for us.
Regardless, we have now received 2 completely different cost proposals from 2 different energy consultants and don’t really know how to proceed.

Cost Proposal 1.)
Services:
- Energy concept, energy consulting, report preparation (1000 EUR)
- KFW application, review of documents submitted by the client (300 EUR)
- Confirmation after completion of the measure (300 EUR)

Costs (total): 1,600 EUR

Cost Proposal 2.)

Services:
- Brief consultation & proof of funding (500 EUR)
- Construction supervision (KfW 431): professional planning, support in obtaining offers, monitoring construction measures, invoice verification, acceptance of the renovation, report (9,500 EUR)

Costs (total): 10,000 EUR

Both offers seem to be so far apart and I would like to hear from an experienced user here which services are really necessary and which are offered but not at all required for KFW.

We plan to carry out most of the work ourselves, but not everything.

What would you say, which services make sense for us and which are not needed?

Thanks for your advice!

The offers have two completely different purposes. The first apparently includes only the energy consulting with [KFW paperwork]. The latter includes the support of the renovation including awarding contracts, construction management, and acceptance (as well as [KFW paperwork]).

You guys must have really talked past each other?!

Alex is right, the second offers construction supervision, which costs significantly more. This construction supervision for KfW (as far as I know, but also the consultation) can be reimbursed 50% by the KfW Bank (however, there is a maximum amount) and possibly an application must be submitted to the KfW first before you can have your energy consultation and construction supervision reimbursed.

The Verbraucherzentrale also offers energy consultations. However, it depends on the expert what makes sense. There is a free initial consultation by phone and then one on site for €15?.
The Bauherren-Schutzbund also offers free initial consultations.

Basically though:
If you build new, you must mandatorily meet the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016 standards, and these are not far from KfW55 anymore, which would allow you to get the €100,000 loan.
For us, KFW 55 was already achieved by the additional heat pump. Solar or photovoltaic systems already bring a significant advantage calculatively here. Most construction companies already have some experience with this.
So, energy consultation itself is not necessarily required if it is just about achieving KfW 55.
On the other hand, I also think it makes sense to first get an offer from various construction companies and then possibly discuss this offer with the energy consultation. From the offer, it may already be apparent whether you have reached KfW 55, and the energy consultation would, if KfW55 alone was the goal, already be obsolete (that’s how we did it).

The construction supervision, however, should be considered independently from the above. Here it is about an independent entity spot-checking the construction work! (so not continuously) to check if everything fits. Only energy-relevant aspects are reviewed here. Whether the wall is crooked is not checked. These energy-relevant inspections are reimbursed 50% by the KfW as mentioned.

Furthermore, most experts also offer normal spot-check construction supervision ("crooked wall"). Of course, this costs extra.
This is basically already the task of a separate/independent architect. In our case, the architect belongs to the construction company and is therefore not impartial.

When I informed myself about construction supervision, I noted the following:

For services of the Bauherren-Schutzbund (Bauherren-Schutzbund) you have to become a member (annual fee approx. €150).

The membership includes a first free energy consultation meeting.
In this meeting, you should bring your documents (at least floor plans + specification list).
The gentleman can then carry out a heating calculation and discuss options to reach KfW55.

Further services at a reduced fee of the Bauherren-Schutzbund of €85/hour are:
- Review of the specification/offer comparisons
- Application for KfW standard
- Calculation for KfW
- Construction monitoring regarding KfW
- Other construction monitoring
- Acceptance of KfW compliance

About 2-3 construction visits regarding KfW (€1500 - €2000) (?? that much, doesn’t correspond proportionally to normal construction monitoring) ??

About 8-9 construction visits for normal construction monitoring (incl. basement) (max duration 3 hours, about €250/visit)

Individual calculation of thermal bridges: €100/bridge, about 12-14 "bridges" per single-family house.
Bridge calculation achieves better KfW values with a deduction value of 0.05 instead of only 0.01 to 0.015 as is the case with standard calculations/flat rate approach (e.g. by general contractor).

Total costs for eligible activities: €3000 - €5000 (50% of which are reimbursed by KfW)

In principle, construction supervision is advisable, especially if you are uncertain or know little and also don’t know anyone else. Usually architects and companies have no problem with construction supervisors. If they do, they would be unprofessional or have something to hide.
Thermal bridge calculation was done by the architect of the construction company for us, as well as the KfW application and acceptance.

I have already read that sometimes much fewer or many more construction visits were offered. You can ultimately influence that yourself. But the expert is only responsible when he is visiting the construction site. Defects that occur between visits and remain undiscovered cannot be held liable by the expert nor will they be discovered at all. Construction supervision is therefore by no means a guarantee for 100% performance.
What you can still do yourself is to be on the construction site as often as possible and take many photos of all work.