New construction project: What approach is sensible?

Hello everyone,

after being inactive for a while, I have questions upon questions again today.

Why? As things currently stand, a new development area will be created at our desired location and we want to build our own house there.

At the moment, it looks like the area is expected to be developed starting spring 2016, and according to the city, it is currently planned that construction on the plots can begin in January 2017.

So actually still plenty of time.... or?

We want to use this advantage for ourselves and start familiarizing ourselves with the topic of house building as early as possible.
Over the past years, we have sporadically dealt rudimentarily with topics such as basement construction, choice of heating system, residential ventilation, etc. But due to lack of a plot, we never delved deeper. But that is about to change now.

However, we ask ourselves which topics we should tackle first or can already address at this very early stage? Do you as experts have a few helpful ideas or tips?

One note: We are very well positioned in terms of financing the whole project, since we both come from the banking sector. :-)

In particular, since we still currently do not have a plot and the site plan will probably not be available until at the earliest end of 2015/early 2016, we would like to know which topics around house building we can already address today?

What do you think about the guides that, for example, Stiftung Warentest and consumer advice centers offer? Is buying them worth it to facilitate the start?

I am currently unsure how sensible it is to already approach a general contractor or a solid house manufacturer to get a first feeling for the actual construction costs.

Also, the question arises whether it would already make sense to compare building service specifications at such an early point?

Because we definitely want to involve an external expert (Association of Private Builders or Builders’ Protection Association?) at an early stage, it would be good to clarify from when this makes sense or whether it is best to already secure an appointment for mid-2016 today?

Regarding the house planning, the following is certain for us at the moment:

[*]Absolutely three children's rooms

[*]Absolutely need two bathrooms

[*]Construction with basement

[*]the plot will definitely be on a slope

[*]The living area should be in the range of 180-200 sqm

[*]The plot will be about 500 sqm

[*]In addition, we would like to build two stories with a hipped roof

In summary, I would be happy if you could give me a bit of support for the start. Our goal is to have the house building planned in the long term so that when it starts we will not face a bunch of unanswered questions.

Many thanks in advance!

Joschka

Ahoy you,

I think, when it comes to the most important thing at the beginning of such an endeavor, you are doing well... the financing. If you know your budget, that is in my eyes the "A" and "O". We got advice from Interhyp and were or are really satisfied there. Maybe you should just get a second opinion on your numbers... I would be interested in that if I were a banker myself.

Otherwise, I can only advise you to take your time when looking for the right provider, seek direct conversations, have things calculated. Also calmly have something calculated that you don’t want and then take it out again. Shows the patience of the provider... maybe they will roll their eyes then. Watch facial expressions and gestures. In another post, I briefly wrote down our opinions about some providers.

Maybe you can also already plan what you want for the house. How about a garage or a double garage, maybe just a carport or both. We included it in the plan and have already found the right partner for the garage construction.

Not really many tips...

Greetings,
SaRo

EDIT: I wrote this in another post. But some of it won’t apply to you, since it is prefabricated construction

Scanhaus Marlow Marlow: very friendly, professionally competent, patient, Scanhaus Marlow Marlow also gladly explained things twice /
Duration 1st meeting: 2.5 h
Duration 2nd meeting: 3 h

Massa: casual, laid-back... for us too laid-back, statements like: it will be fine, it doesn’t matter... can’t recommend at all / Duration: 1h

Haashaus: initially really good, took time, explained... only the house proposal at the second appointment completely missed our expectations despite the conversation, we can’t recommend at all / Duration: 2 h

Gussek: what do YOU want to build... have YOU ever thought about that... / Duration: 45 min.

Kampa: great houses... unfortunately, they first wanted to sell us the expensive one (exceeded our budget by a solid 50,000), before they addressed our wishes, talked a lot... said nothing / Duration: 1.5 h

Ever Energy: 20 minutes of our lives we will never get back

ALLKauf: very relaxed, professionally well-founded knowledge, friendly, very patient, appointments never a problem, even on weekends, take care of answering open questions /
Duration 1st meeting: 3h
Duration 2nd meeting: 4.5h

How you can build your house, you will ( unfortunately ) find out later in the B- plan....for example, only single-story buildings are allowed here....you can use the next few months to scout new development areas and talk to builders there about who they built with and whether they can recommend them.

I wouldn't say that so generally. For example, someone who absolutely doesn't want to build a bungalow but prefers a townhouse will limit their property search to lots where that is possible. It does get more difficult, but in my opinion, it's not impossible.

However, we ask ourselves which topics we should tackle first or can already tackle at this very early stage?

First, you should find out how to get a plot of land. Are they allocated to ordinary people or to an investor? If the former, lottery procedure? Make sure that -- when the time comes -- you definitely get a plot of land. Ideally, you are the buyers and buy without developer ties and pay in cash.

You can estimate construction costs based on the forum: square meter count times 1500 euros to 1800 euros plus 50,000 euros for the basement plus 30,000 euros for ancillary construction costs + 15,000 euros for outdoor facilities [very variable!] + xx euros for furniture (kitchen, bathroom, etc.) + expenses (moving, double rent, whatever).

I would not talk to developers yet, IMO it’s a waste of time.

If necessary, you can look for an architect (friends, acquaintances, experiences?). You should allow time here, but it can be worthwhile. Developers often promise an "architect house," but then you never actually see one.

Look at new development areas, what you like, what you don’t like. (You can also look at old houses, what you like, what you don’t like ;-)).

Look at show homes.

Go to a building fair.

Don’t bind yourselves! Stay free, you have time. You only need money. ;-)

If both of you come from the financing sector, then you also have a network to the real estate advisors in your bank? They also have an interesting network, which could help you get a plot of land more quickly. B-vitamin should be used if you have it.

Then, as mentioned above: gather information. What do you like, what not, how is technology done nowadays? (that means not asking parents and aunts who built 30 years ago) Buy a magazine once in a while and get to know other construction methods than the standard types built in the area. Visit well-known larger construction companies on the web, order catalogs.

Basically, my tip is still: never stick to one building type (see city villa without knee wall, bungalow). Other variants also have effective ways to coordinate budget and room program, so you can spend the rest of your life nicely in the new house.

Regards Yvonne