Independent building expert - Necessary or alternatives?

Hi - how was your experience with your building surveyors? Were they worth their - expensive - money? For my planned new build through a regional construction company that hires subcontractors and of course also has its own site management (I am aware that this construction company is not always on my side). I have now received an offer from TÜV. 3,300,- for 4 inspections + inspection reports. That’s 825,- per site visit. I think that’s really cheeky. Especially since you don’t know if you’re really getting competent people.

What do you think? What alternatives are there? No independent building surveyors at all and hope that everything goes well? Book a freelance engineer online and hope that he’s any good?

I am aware that finding faults by experts especially in the early construction phase can save a lot of money. With independent surveyors you might reduce the risk a bit. But you can’t be sure there either.

Greetings from NDS.

If at all, I would commission an independent construction supervision through an engineering office, but that also costs more than 3300€. In my opinion, you can also do without 4 visits from the TÜV man.

Depends on the scope of these reports (they still have to be written after all - possibly also illustrated with pictures). To be honest, I don't find the price at all outrageous. Travel to and from also applies. In my opinion, there is clearly more foolishly spent money. And certain defects you never see as a layperson - an expert usually does.

That is 825,- per visit to the construction site. I really find that cheeky.

That is a common daily rate in the expert field.

So we build without an expert, but basically any money is well spent if it gives the builder a better feeling. After all, you don't want to have a heart attack because of building a house.

Das ist doch ein üblicher Tagessatz im gutachterlichen Bereich.

That's how it is. A motivational coach can be more expensive, but discovers fewer defects...

So we found an expert from the list of the IHK, called him and he was quite affordable.....but he didn’t write anything down or write any letters......but that was sufficient for us, we just wanted to know if everything was okay.