How to approach building demolition?

We have purchased a plot of land to build a single-family house. There are smaller old buildings on the property that need to be demolished. We are currently planning the next steps. Should I prepare a tender (although I do not know what should be included) or simply contact a demolition company and record all necessary activities during an on-site inspection? How would you approach this? If a neighbor's building is damaged during the demolition, who is liable? The demolition company or we as the owners and clients commissioning the demolition?

I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you.

Contact a demolition company to take a look at it. As an expert, they also have to pay attention to asbestos and hazardous waste. You can't do that as a layperson. But contact 2 companies and compare. There are supposed to be big differences, especially in disposal. However, I would first check if a shed or something like that should remain. You don't have to rebuild what is already there :cool:

: Did you coordinate with my wife? She also wants to leave everything standing and build the new house around it ;)o_O.

The order would therefore be: Demolition of the buildings and disposal at a fixed price by a certain date. Before that, I would contact the building authority to check if a demolition notice is required. I would have the electricity disconnected by the supplier beforehand. Water/sewage is not available. One building shares the rear wall with the neighbor's building. The neighbor has been informed. We would simply leave the relevant wall standing. There will be a hedge in front of it later. Does a structural engineer need to be consulted? It is only a shed.

Did I forget anything?

Contact several demolition companies. Conduct an on-site inspection and listen carefully to what they say. For the demolition itself, I would have a fixed price given, disposal according to weigh ticket. There are different pollutant classes, and with a total price, the offer is made according to the most expensive. There are endless price differences. One wants to close the street with a traffic light system for weeks, another wants access to the hydrant, another comes with a stone crusher, one says we dispose without a lab test, another says definitely check beforehand and then during demolition, etc. I would say liability lies with the demolition company. They will tell you if a structural engineer is necessary. Within town, I would definitely recommend a specialized company that focuses on demolitions. Demolitions are also carried out by civil engineering or house construction companies. When I see how precise and careful they have demolished at our place – only a specialized company. Tear down what is necessary and obstructing. Only leave standing what is still good and really needed. Be sure to consider in the costs that possibly roof, sealing, doors, masonry renovation, etc. may be necessary for the old building parts. Rubble stones, oak beams, if there is enough space, store on the property for further use. L-shaped stones do not fit an old rubble stone wall.

: great, thanks!

Should I actually be on site during the demolition? Then I would have to plan vacation and schedule it precisely.

Since it can sometimes take weeks depending on the company, I wouldn't try to be there on site. (At our place, the containers for the stripping were in front of the house on 26.1., and when they started with the base slab on 8.4., they had just finished the gravel sub-base…)

You can let the neighbors know beforehand that a demolition is taking place if you're nice :)