Overview of cost-effective building styles

Where does this unbridled desire to absolutely want to build a new house come from, when it should already be clear from the answers here in the forum that - if at all - it can only be balanced with enormous risks? What speaks against a good used property?

Best regards from the Rhineland

As I said, in 2009 we already built a new house together with the parents-in-law and therefore currently live in a modern property with upscale features. (Solid house, heat pump, electric blinds, upscale sanitary fittings, home cinema, etc.).

Hopefully it is understandable that one does not necessarily want to downgrade now, hence also the requirements such as a double garage, etc.

I am just considering putting the 1,000 euros of "rent" I pay to my father-in-law into my own property monthly instead, but as it seems, the starting conditions (insufficient equity) are not yet right. I have to say that we recently paid for a nearly new car from savings and also our entire apartment furnishings including home cinema from savings. What I want to say is that the currently available 30,000 euros of equity can be used purely for the house construction; we already have the furnishings for the new house.

Then I naturally understand the desire for a new building. However, you should definitely lower your expectations or save for a few more years to accumulate more equity!

It remains for you to check whether you do not want to increase your budget - if the income is high enough and secure enough, there is nothing against it.

Roof shape: In my experience, the gable roof and the shed roof are the most economical roof types.
Basement: You can save a lot of money by foregoing the basement, but you also lose the utility value of the house. Simply counting the basement costs as savings is also a simplistic calculation; because without a basement, the house must be planned larger to provide enough space for the heating or technical room and storage area, or larger garages or garden sheds must be planned instead. These additional costs must be offset against the basement costs saved.
Expensive options - Bay window, projections, recesses - Roof windows are more expensive than regular windows, especially if a roller shutter is desired - Balcony (which is rarely used anyway if you have a terrace) - Exit from the living room to the terrace as a sliding door
Affordable options - Raising the knee wall - Larger windows instead of smaller ones
With our construction company, you can calculate €1900 per sqm of living space. The following costs are not included in this formula: basement, architect, structural engineering, utility connections, surveying, soil report, building inspector, extras such as geothermal/ventilation system/increased ceiling heights/sliding doors/electric roller shutters/...

Meal time,

In my experience, the gable roof and the shed roof are the most affordable roof types.

In my experience, the FD is the most affordable option, followed by SD, WD, and the last place is held by the PD. But to not raise exaggerated expectations here: I am talking about a price difference of TEUR 10 from FD to PD; always with straightforward architecture, meaning no offsets.

And simply calculating the cellar costs as savings is also an oversimplification; because without a cellar, the house must be planned larger to have enough space for the heating/technical room and storage area, or larger garages or garden sheds must be planned instead. These additional costs must be offset against the saved cellar costs.

That is basically correct; in my opinion, what is missing is the note that even if the BP increases due to the enlarged house area, the savings are far in the five-digit range. Because building above ground is simply cheaper than building underground. The building owner planning like this additionally saves - in the first step - incalculable risks for possibly required earthworks, possibly sealings according to DIN yxz, etc. Assuming that the majority of builders exploit the building envelopes of their plots anyway, the saved capital should be valued even higher. A prefabricated garage – even sized 3.00 x 9.00 m – costs about TEUR 12 (including sectional door and required strip foundations) and is not a major cost factor now, and can also be added afterward; a garden shed does not require a building permit and is also affordable.

A house "does not have to" be built larger prematurely due to the space required for the technology. On the one hand, it depends on clever room layout planning, and on the other hand, the attic often offers space to accommodate the technology. The safety needed for the water tank in the form of a basin does not cost the world.

I have already seen many plans for single-family homes of 180 sqm and more, where I wondered who designed such rubbish; also here. Conversely, I have seen plans for semi-detached houses of 150 sqm (including converted attic), which were moved into by a family of six and still offered space for private life of all residents, technology, as well as sufficient storage rooms.

With our construction company, you can calculate 1900 € per sqm of living space.

This value roughly corresponds to my experience for RP as well; in my opinion, it calculates more reliably if potential builders base it on the price per sqm of floor area.

Rhenish greetings

Conversely, plans for a semi-detached house of 150 sqm (including converted attic), which was occupied by a family of six after moving in and still offered space for the private life of all residents, technology, as well as sufficient storage rooms.

Do you have a link to that here in the forum?

On Monday, we have an appointment with our construction company; I’m curious to see what comes of it.

The loan amount of 300,000 EUR is more or less a kind of "sound barrier" in my head; maybe you can add a bit more, but then the equity ratio will get worse. But that will be something a meeting with various banks, which will take place after the conversation with the construction company, will show.

Until then, thanks again for the numerous opinions and hints.