Inheritance share, family property, expand living area

In other words -> The architect wants to put up the biggest, most expensive, most sophisticated extension possible so that his brainpower really matters, he doesn't get bored, and in the end he makes as much profit as possible.

Or -> The timber house builder says: converting a barn doesn't make sense, way too much effort, not profitable, he would build a great timber house there instead.

Or -> the prefab house manufacturer says, it's best to put a Flying Space there, because that's the easiest.

But these are not well-founded claims and insinuations.
I think most service providers don't deserve that.

Because I am sure to repeat myself, but it is a strange feeling to move into a house worth 100,000 and we are building my father a modern, €1,700,000 thing with half the living space.

Surely you are right, but that was your suggestion. A new build simply costs more than the current value of an old property. Mostly, anyway.
In this respect, you should look for an architect and work out the best solution for everyone with him. You have to reflect on yourselves.
Maybe, for example, one possibility is to separate the existing ground floor for Dad and build an extension behind it and manage to create a connection to the upper floor of the existing building. That requires expertise, and you just have to let money flow to an architect sometimes. You need one anyway!

You need expertise for that, and sometimes you just have to let money flow to an architect. You need one anyway!

So the way is 100% through an architect?

And do I also start with him?

@JulianMünchen: you say, go to a construction company: which one do you recommend? Who can tell me what is the cheapest/most suitable for us? (Barn conversion/extension/extension to the barn/alternative)

I have the feeling that I have to tell the company what I want: but I don’t know that yet, because I neither know what is even possible nor what advantages/disadvantages each option has. Who can help me with that without me feeling that everyone advising me is looking out for their biggest profit? In other words -> An architect wants to put the biggest, most expensive, demanding extension on me so that his brainpower really matters, he doesn’t get bored, and he makes the largest profit in the end. Or -> The timber frame builder says: a barn conversion is not sensible, too much effort, not profitable, he would build a great timber house there instead. Or -> the prefab house manufacturer says, it’s best to put a Flying Space there because that is the easiest.

Even though I haven’t tested it so far, I have this fear. Maybe you can tell me how we should approach this best. Because I’m sure I’m repeating myself, but it’s a strange feeling to move into a house that’s worth 100,000 and we build my father a modern, €1,700,000 thing with half the living space. He has been able to live in an old house in recent years and felt comfortable. There doesn’t have to be a miracle building. If the outcome is: €170,000 is the minimum investment for the minimum there is. Then we still have the option to say no. So far, however, we hope that we will find the cheapest (not cheapest quality) solution.

I’m afraid that only a friendly architect or civil engineer who would not profit from your contract could advise you completely neutrally here. Regardless of whether it’s an extension, new build, or renovation, you will need an architect (whether freelance or employed by a construction company) and a construction company anyway. Naturally, every construction company will tell you that they have the best concept and that it will be cheapest with them, so I would do it like all other housebuilders: ask around in your area who has had good experiences with local smaller construction companies, go to a show home park and simply talk to the prefab providers there, maybe providers with many bungalows or granny flats can give you helpful tips. You already have a non-written statement on what is possible on the plot; with this information and your wishes regarding living, I would go to the companies and listen to the various proposals. I’m quite sure that you will intuitively notice who you feel good about, who suggests a creative solution, who asks you the right questions, and with whom you feel comfortable and develop trust. Regarding the architect, I can give you the tip: state clearly what your budget is and what the goal is; if it should be a functional extension for budget x, he should plan exactly that for you and cannot simply demand more due to the fee schedule. If you plan with a freelance architect, ask him when his last house was built so you know if he truly knows the current construction prices and not the ridiculously low costs from 2017/2018 from today’s perspective.

Regarding costs, I understand your way of thinking, and if a large investment is not feasible, it may well be that with current construction costs a really functional extension or renovation is simply not possible. What I don’t quite understand, however, is why you put it like you are building your father a modern and expensive house? While he would indeed live there on the plot, it will be YOUR house after his death (hopefully far away), into which you have invested, and as long as you all live there, it is invested in all of you and everyone benefits from each other (keyword shared time, childcare, own land). The alternative would be that your dad simply stays living there, but you currently couldn’t buy another plot/house and then in the event of inheritance you would have to pay off your sister AND construction costs have risen many times, right?

I’m afraid that only a architect or civil engineer who is a friend and would not profit from your commission could advise you completely neutrally here. Whether extension, new building or conversion, you will need an architect (regardless of whether freelance or employed by a construction company) and a construction company anyway. Naturally, every construction company will tell you that they have the best concept and that it is cheapest with them, so I would do it like all the other house builders: ask around in your area who has had good experiences with local smaller construction companies, go to a show home park and simply talk to the prefabricated home providers, maybe here the providers with many bungalows or granny flats can give you helpful tips. You already have a non-written statement about what is possible on the plot, with this information and your wishes regarding living, I would go to the companies and listen to the different proposals, I am quite sure that you will intuitively sense where you have a good feeling, who proposes a creative solution, who asks you the right questions and with whom you also feel comfortable and gain trust. Regarding the architect topic, I can also give you the tip: state clearly what your budget is and what the goal is, if it should be a functional extension for budget x, he should plan exactly that for you and due to the fee structure cannot simply demand more. If you plan with a freelance architect, ask him when his last house was built so that you know whether he really knows the current construction prices and not the ridiculously low costs from 2017/2018 from today’s perspective. As far as the costs are concerned, I do understand your mindset and if a large investment is not feasible, it may very well be that with the current construction costs a really functional extension or conversion is simply not possible.

Thank you for the feedback. That sounds sobering at first and matches my prejudices. And means that no one tells me what would be best, but that I as a layman have to make the decision :-(

What I don’t quite understand, however, is why you phrase it as if you are building your father a modern and expensive house? Although he would also live on the plot, after his death (which hopefully is still far away) it is then YOUR house that you have invested in and as long as you all live there, it is invested in all of you and everyone benefits from everyone (keyword shared time, childcare, own land).

You are absolutely right. I have named these advantages as well. Prospectively, we won’t need an extension in 30 years. In any case, it is hard at age 30 to think about whether and what one might need in old age. We need a house now. We are building the extension for my dad so that we get the main house. The extension is just a means to an end for now. We are constantly checking what is possible with extension/expansion etc. But we have hardly been able to invest any thought in what we actually want to do in the main house. We will invest almost €400,000 and are currently planning “only” for my father. That is why we are probably so stingy with the money. We wrongly only see half invested for ourselves. Maybe that’s where my choice of words comes from. But of course, it could be that our children will move into the house at some point and my wife and I will go into the more modern extension.

The alternative would be that your dad simply stays living there, but at the moment you couldn’t buy another plot/house and then in the event of inheritance you would have to pay out your sister AND the construction costs have risen many times over, right?

Yes, I also see the risk with the construction costs and prospectively the interest rates can only rise. But if we don’t take the house and inheritance occurs, we don’t have to take it, but rather use the equity. Who knows.

Thank you for the feedback. That sounds quite sobering at first and matches my prejudices. And it means that it’s not someone telling me what would be best, but that I, as a layperson, have to make the decision :-(

Sorry, but I totally disagree with This is about an extension or conversion of an existing building – any competent general contractor will point out that as a GC he is not quite the right person because he doesn’t like or can’t handle complexity. Of course, you need an architect who looks at the existing building, listens to you about what you need cost-effectively and what is feasible within the limit, who shares his knowledge with the building authority and with you, and who creates something that satisfies you in the long term. If he has done his job, there will be plans according to which a builder can build or alter.

Whether extension, new build or conversion, you will need an architect (whether freelance or employed by a construction company) and a construction company anyway.

What you don’t need: a general contractor who places a standard house on the plot and a rubber-stamper who approves a design. You need ideas and cost-optimized ways to implement them as much as possible. But if you are here to have your prejudices confirmed, I don’t know... then you need to hire your neighbor, the carpenter, and build something yourself off the books – whether it will be habitable then is another question.

Sorry, but I completely disagree with .
This is about the extension or conversion of an existing building – any competent general contractor will point out that as a GC he is not exactly the right person because he doesn’t like or can’t handle complex projects.
Of course, you need an architect who looks at the existing building, listens to what you need cost-effectively, and what is feasible within the budget, who communicates his knowledge to the building authority and to you, and creates something that will satisfy you in the long term. If he has done his job, there will be plans according to which a construction company can build or modify.

What you don’t need: a GC who places a standard model house on the plot and a stamp guy who just approves a design. You need ideas and as cost-optimized implementation options as possible.

If you’re here just to have your prejudices confirmed, I don’t know… then you’d have to hire your neighbor, the carpenter, and illegally hammer something together yourself – whether it will actually be habitable is another story.

Thank you for your critical feedback. You can probably tell from my previous posts that I have little to no idea. That’s why I’m here. And I’m very grateful for your words. I definitely don’t want my prejudices confirmed but rather to ask whether they are justified. And great that you gave me a precise roadmap.

So not going around construction companies, but architects?

And how do I approach such a conversation tactically in the best way?

say/ask:
- I have €170,000, what can be done with that?
- What is the cheapest option here?
- We want x, what does it cost?
- ....

???

Best regards