Is an architect really that expensive?

Surely you are right, that was also the reason for a [GÜ] for us. However, we were both glad to have tolerant bosses who let us go to the construction site for one or two hours to discuss details with the craftsmen or to handle unforeseen situations. We have the cell phone numbers of every craftsman; mine was scratched into the fresh wall plaster with a pencil.
My husband went to buy parts for the craftsmen that were missing... in short: we were the contacts on the construction site.

Not to mention the [EL] who pinned us down at the construction site...

Well, you simply can’t compare the quality at all - you only see that after years/decades.

There are recognized technical standards and DIN norms. There are detailed manufacturer specifications on how their products are to be processed. In the end, the same craftsmen build the large architect-designed house with projections, small bay windows, and little towers as well as the 120 sqm little house.

Apparently, according to Grym, the one who builds the cheapest construction wins ...

There are justified differences, and there are vast differences that cannot really be justified within the normal framework. In the end, they all just cook with water. State of the art is state of the art.

Since your arguments somehow come down to the same thing, also the question to both of you: What are the main points that justify a price of about 2,000 EUR/sqm vs. 1,280 EUR/sqm? With 167 sqm living space, that’s still a 120,000 EUR difference in price.

Good evening,

Since your arguments somehow lead to the same conclusion, a question to both of you: What are the key points that justify a price of about 2,000 EUR/sqm versus 1,280 EUR/sqm? With 167 sqm living space, that's a difference of 120,000 EUR in price.

I'll answer... unsolicited

In my opinion, you are "only" looking at the price and will in the end surely become the victim of your attitude; you wouldn't be the first and certainly not the last. What you ignore – as far as I have read your posts (not all, honestly it’s often too exhausting for me) – is to consider a price difference by federal state. Sebastian is building in NRW, Yvonne built in Harburg; Stefan with an architect and Yvonne with a construction manager (GÜ). So not comparable to your scenario.

You will build in the Dresden area; prices there are (still) cheap; whether with a general contractor or architect. So if you are firmly convinced that you have made the right choice for yourself: good. Therefore, you should refrain from justifying your path based on other experiences; and also from discussing just for the sake of "being right."

Rhenish greetings

I don’t just look at the price, otherwise I would build with the Polish company (of course strictly according to the construction service description without extras) or with the people from Simmern. On the contrary, I have actually dealt with almost every trade by now and certainly have extra wishes here and there, which are not usually found among the majority of builders ([el. Rollläden], [Kontrollierte-Wohnraumlüftung], if a heat pump, then only with a hygiene storage tank), with other things I see no real advantages (wood-aluminum windows instead of plastic, engobed clay roof tiles instead of coated concrete roof tiles, some other plaster instead of gypsum plaster, if you have a [Kontrollierte-Wohnraumlüftung] anyway regarding humidity regulation), but even if I were to do all these things, the price would not increase by more than 100 EUR/sqm. The engobed clay roof tiles in anthracite, for example, would cost me about 15 EUR/sqm in additional cost from the general contractor.

That’s why the question: maybe I have overlooked something particularly expensive or how does one come to 2,000 EUR/sqm? The more I have talked with companies and the more I inform myself, the more I am of the opinion that the equipment of houses, apart from particularly luxurious bathroom products or basic heating and ventilation technology (air-to-air heat pump or gas without [Kontrollierte-Wohnraumlüftung] as the cheapest alternative; brine heat pump and [Kontrollierte-Wohnraumlüftung] as the most expensive alternative), only differs marginally.

I don’t only look at the price, otherwise I would build with the Polish company (of course strictly according to the construction service description without extras) or with the people from Simmern.

Poland is part of the EU; the subsidiaries of Deutsche Fertighaus Holding are comparable to the current Polish standard.

On the contrary, actually I have now dealt with pretty much every trade

That is probably also the reason why you haven’t made a decision yet.

and certainly here and there extra wishes which you don’t generally find among the majority of builders (electrical shutters, controlled residential ventilation, if heat pump, then only with hygiene storage),

Up to this point completely normal, as part of almost every consultation; at least mine.

in other things I don’t see any real advantages (wood-aluminum windows instead of plastic, engobed clay roof tiles instead of coated concrete roof tiles, some other plaster instead of gypsum plaster, if you have controlled residential ventilation anyway regarding moisture regulation),

Then I don’t know why you deal with it? In the price range in which you are moving, the above positions certainly do not belong in the standard specification.

.... differ only marginally.

No. One, for example, only has a 20 cm floor slab, the next a 180 mm insulation in the roof. Another one installs the sanitary rough-in in the floor slab as well as in the ceiling slabs, the one after that saves on a 7-chamber system for windows or skips filling ceiling joints/painting roof soffits. I can extend this list with many more points.

What counts at the end of the day is the following: what operating costs does a builder have due to the choice of his building partner? nothing more and nothing less; a supposedly higher-quality tile selection/sanitary equipment is the least expensive additional cost of all

Rhenish regards

... And last but not least a functional house design that arouses the desire to live there without any oppressive sacrifices