New single-family house in southern Germany

Not necessarily the cheapest but definitely no luxury either. Just something properly functioning. Basically the Skoda of houses.

Well, what you’re planning (in terms of technology) is definitely in the upper standard range.

I know. At Town & Country, radiators are standard, underfloor heating is extra, gas heating instead of a heat pump is standard, etc. You can add everything, but of course that increases the price. Basically, a simpler equipment is enough for us, certain points in building technology are just important.

Wow... ok, Town & Country has a big role in the house building industry, namely for those who can only afford to build something small, nice, simple. To stuff a small car with few horsepower full of upgrades and refinements as far as the eye can see, I don’t think that makes sense. It always remains a Town & Country house.

The bathtub is basically always removed for us. I’ve been living in the apartment for 10 years now and have used the bathtub about 5 times for bathing, otherwise only as a shower. For what a bathtub costs and the space it takes up, I can go to the thermal bath quite often. Then everyone has plenty of space in the pool.

You’re planning with kids, right? Do you want to walk to the thermal bath every day with toddlers so that the neighbors say: "Look, back then they couldn’t afford a tub?"
A tub becomes more and more important as you get older... I won’t bother you with ceremonies of washing wool blankets and cashmere sweaters or soaking something, cleaning kale, or important medicinal baths. But at the latest after your daily gardening work, the tub will be needed—whether to recover from muscle pain or to soak dirt-crusted knees and calluses on hands and feet ;)

A second child is not planned at the moment and no, of course we don’t go to the thermal baths every day. But honestly, if you would only use the bathtub three times a year anyway, do you really need one? Saturday bath day is a nice tradition from my childhood, but I would forgo that if necessary, especially since the standard bathtub usually isn’t enough. For muscle pain maybe a sauna barrel will come to the garden someday, although that seems rather far off at the moment. In our life plan, bigger bathing activities are not really foreseen.

Well, what you (regarding technology) are planning is already in the upper standard range.

Skodas can also get quite expensive nowadays. I read a test report about the new Octavia this week, and the test car was actually twice the price of mine. And yes, I think that is part of the problem. Technology and other equipment are somewhat mismatched, with the home technology in a noticeably higher quality range. On the other hand, gas heating is out of the question and a cheap heat pump that dies after 7 years is also not an option. For that, we have relatively little desire for oversized tiles, elaborate lighting design in the garden, and other such money sinks. But I think that doesn’t have to be a contradiction. And I believe prices here in the south are simply already high. My sister wants to buy something here in a developer model, and she ends up at about €2300-2400 per sqm (depending on what is assumed for incidental construction costs) for a semi-detached house without floors and painting. Of course, also without gimmicks like photovoltaics. And that’s no longer near Lake Constance but in the middle of Upper Swabia. So I don’t think my prices look that bad after all.

Yes, that's true. Nevertheless, and without having researched further details, I have my doubts whether the difference between Senec and Vaillant actually justifies a factor of 2.

Certainly not, but are you sure that this factor is caused exclusively by that? I think WH is rather higher priced, but that may also have performance reasons that one might have to look for/find, and then you have to decide whether (if present) it is worth the price to you. Sometimes things are included that I don't even need, from materials to services. I think a 1:1 comparison in house construction is almost impossible.

Rudolf Benz

I didn’t even know that Rolf has a brother :D.... nice for him.

I know a family with 2 children, who have lived in the converted garage for 8 years because they are building the house themselves. That would be worse for me.

It can always get worse! But that doesn’t mean I have to risk catching the plague in house construction from the start.

at least financially, let's leave the tortured nerves aside.

Nope, mine are very important to me. I also want to have fun doing it if possible.

I know. With Town & Country, radiators are still included in the standard; underfloor heating is extra; gas heating instead of heat pump in the standard, etc.

...which is perfectly fine to live with. Underfloor heating and heat pumps are by no means a panacea. Unfortunately, nowadays the impression arises that building without these means building inferiorly, which is complete nonsense to claim across the board. For example, I don’t like underfloor heating (I currently have one) and you can read plenty of lengthy dramas about heat pumps here…. Therefore, it’s not bad but by no means a cure-all.

certain points in building services are just important.

What would that be specifically? Much of what is considered standard today is not better because of that.

If possible, we wanted to be involved as little as possible before moving in

That’s certainly possible; however, that can also reduce the price. The construction time is partly stressful, and that will not work without involvement.

Gas heating is out of the question

Because...? You want to be down-to-earth and cost-effective.
I think once you have one or two CONCRETE offers from general contractors, you'll see more clearly. In the end, it doesn’t depend on the bathtub or the like. You must not overlook that the majority of discussions here are at the upper end, that the actual standard is sometimes already considered weak.
There are a few houses in the forum built with so much taste but still technically and financially well-grounded. So it is possible, you just have to see whether you want it too.

Town & Country plays a major role in the housebuilding industry, specifically for those who can only afford to build something small, nice, and simple. I don't think it makes sense to stuff a small car with few horsepower so full of upgrades and finesse as far as the eye can see.

Anyone who interpreted Town & Country as a cake base on which to build a multi-tiered cream cake would not have understood their concept and is also not part of their target group. They do not want to be a cheap base for building a touring racing car either. They are the jeans among houses.

because...? You want to be down-to-earth and price-attractive.

Gas heating is a technology that is already politically on the chopping block today. No one tells you that yet, but in the end it goes very quickly. About as fast as with diesel... the car was not even out of warranty when driving bans were coming. I am a burned child in this regard.

That certainly works, but it can also drive the price down. The construction time is partly stressful, it won’t work without that.

That’s clear to me and in the end we’ll also see what can be sensibly integrated. But you have to be realistic, quickly doing something for an hour more is not possible given our travel time. And gathering Saturdays like that drags on forever in the end. And ultimately the savings potential for floors and painters is there, but also relatively limited compared to the total sum. Therefore, first let the planning be done and check it again before the final contract. Then the calculation will definitely add up, better than planning weeks of own work that then has to be contracted out after all.

Yes, I think that gradually, with collected information/offers and also some time, a picture emerges of what one wants for oneself, what one can afford, and what priorities one sets. As a South German/Kurpfälzer, therefore Happy Christmas from Saxony!