Is the overall cost estimation realistic?

My husband is a teacher and would therefore have similar working hours as school hours once our daughter is of school age. If she were to attend after-school care 1-2 afternoons a week, he could continue working full-time. Additionally, my parents live only a few kilometers away and could help out.

An independent broker is worth considering for such an important decision... what do you usually pay for this advice?

I would already find that quite a lot as an insurance sum

It’s a question of perspective. Do you want to "only" secure the mortgage, or ensure that the partner alone could continue the accustomed life? The first is easy to calculate, the second is greatly underestimated, especially – and I repeat myself – when children are involved, who may need to be supported financially until they complete their studies in their mid-20s.

Edit: A broker costs nothing, they are paid through the commission from the ultimately selected insurance.

An independent broker is worth considering for such an important decision... what do you usually pay for this advice?

Ours is a former "AWD" guy. He earns from commissions. Although I work in insurance, and at least internally I have comparisons whether his suggestions are only commission-driven.

What only sells well online are absolute mass products like, for example, car insurance, or statutory health insurance, or basic liability, household contents, or legal expenses.

Hello,
attached is an update on our current status of construction costs. Compared are the "back then" calculated and the costs actually incurred so far. Only the roof overhang + facade need to be painted on the outside. Inside the finishing work currently includes underfloor heating and then screed. Planned move-in is in September.

Maybe the table will help others who are looking for practical examples of construction (ancillary) costs. Of course, not all but already several items are final in the actual costs.

[*]The base house price was 242,000 EUR and we calculated 15,000 EUR for upgrades. So far, upgrades were sanitary and electrical with 5,000 EUR each and some other small things. We are currently doing very well with that. In addition, there will "only" be tiles, because contrary to the original contract we will tile the living room.

[*]For development & connections, we only have offers/quotes so far. The connections are coming soon. We underestimated water/sewage a bit, but we save in gas, electricity and telecom/fiber. Overall it fits.

[*]We probably calculated construction period interest with 5,000 EUR much too high. Of course, they increase month by month, but with only three months remaining, we will not come close to the 5,000 EUR.

[*]We underestimated all the stuff around the driveway, paving, terrace, footpath etc. for the exterior facilities, but saved significantly on earthworks/excavation etc.

[*]We clearly underestimated furniture (especially lamps). Some costs will still come.

Nevertheless, overall we are very well on track so far (about 7,500 EUR "over"). As said, a few smaller things will still come like e.g. surveys after completion.
Overall the loan amount will fit very well, I think. After signing the construction/loan contract, we did not suddenly stop saving equity.