Is the price increase for the general contractor after signing due to raw material shortages lawful?

Simple solution from the GU. If the customer is not willing to show goodwill, then he will include that in the additional charges. And those will definitely occur.

I believe it always depends on the situation when it makes sense to stand firm and when a concession is appropriate. We are talking here about amounts that will probably be in the four-digit range. Which is not the biggest deal in house construction. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against giving away something. Insisting on paying 0.0 is nonsense in my opinion, because although it is a fixed price, it is based on assumptions that do not always come true, and thus additional costs can arise. Example: An excavation of 40cm for the foundation is agreed. But the ground is only really load-bearing at a depth of 50cm. At the latest now additional costs arise because work has to be done that is not covered by the contract, and if I had always presented myself as tough regarding the assumption of costs, he will at the latest now recoup his money. I can’t even compare the prices for the extra excavation and the addition of extra material because these items were never listed separately for me. I think you have to approach it with some sensitivity and not immediately insist on your right.

But those are actually two different things... These are typical additional costs in house construction that almost everyone faces—in many different areas—but ultimately have nothing to do with the current discussion. Sometimes I wonder why contracts are even concluded if they are not kept? :D As I said, it is of course also a matter of attitude—it always depends individually on the cooperation, with which general contractor I build, etc. Ultimately, I wouldn’t just casually shell out 5k, just because the general contractor says: “Yes... you know the current market prices... everything’s a bit more expensive, it could be around 5k or so” --> and I’d say: Hmm yeah sure, you can’t help it either—of course, I’m willing to contribute :D It doesn’t always have to go straight to court, but often a proper conversation and firmly insisting on your rights gets you very far. That would be bad if it didn’t, right?

You could bring the boss a freshly brewed latte macchiato every morning and polish his x5, then he will like you even more :rolleyes:

Now ask yourself why. I'll say "because he's the dumb one." The entrepreneurs do this professionally. The customer is 90% a layman.

Why? The customer is at the end of the food chain. He has the most to lose. Has time pressure. Has money pressure. Etc. This has to do with professional or layman (P.S. The customer is not borrowed ;-) )

But these are actually two different things... These are typical additional costs in house construction that almost everyone encounters - in quite different areas - but ultimately have nothing to do with the current discussion.

That's true, but having the right and getting the right are two different things, which my post was meant to show. The typical additional costs you mentioned are just a few percent higher.
If he really wants those few euros from you, he will get them from you. No contract is ever tight enough that you can't squeeze a few percent more out of it. We're not talking about huge sums here; those have already been defined by the contract.

Why? The customer is at the end of the food chain. He has the most to lose. Has time pressure. Has financial pressure. Etc.

This has to do with professional or amateur (P.S. The customer is not hired ;-) )

No... I think you also work in the wrong industry to understand this - no offense!

Certainly there are companies that operate like that - that’s why I say: "one should choose the general contractor wisely."

You don’t just lose a customer... You also definitely don’t lose half a million euros "just" because of €10,000 - absolutely not! This construction project will most likely no longer be completed within the planned time frame. The inconveniences that ALSO arise afterward (clearly, the customer also ultimately has a "fucking" problem :D) for the general contractor are disproportionate to the amount demanded. For this exact reason, the GC will never take on this stress, hire a lawyer, simply not come to the construction site, or do other such things. That would be totally unnecessary.

In the end, he simply pays. 3/5 builders give him the demanded amount - the other two just slip through - quite simple.

You wouldn’t believe how much in the private sector runs on "goodwill" to keep a customer or to strengthen one’s image. That is so much more worth than a 10% lower margin on the entire contract for the GC.

You wouldn’t believe how many contracts in certain companies in the private sector just go through where not a single cent is earned? Other things are prioritized there.

In such a special market situation as currently exists, the GC just has to factor in slightly less profit on 3-5 houses. A healthy company will definitely not be put under by that.