Own work in new construction - what makes sense and is feasible?

Good, for example, when building I also had the advantage that I have wheel loaders, telescopic handlers, mini excavators, etc. Or know friends who lend them for a crate of beer. Important are, for example, also a decent trailer and a car that is allowed to tow it.

But yes, there is nothing more annoying by far than picking up and returning tools at a construction equipment rental. And three days later something is missing again. Things like concrete mixers or a proper stirrer I would also include in the ancillary building costs. You just need decent machines, otherwise you go crazy – or work inefficiently.

In the past, people also built houses in their hometown with their childhood friends. Today, you move away for your studies, then realize that you can't afford anything reasonable in the university town and move out again. The friends from university are all theorists and half of them have long since moved to other cities.

That's true, I didn't want to criticize it, but merely point out that building and the builders themselves have changed.

My suggestion is just a small drop on a hot stone and somewhat underrepresented here in the forum, but at least: search a lot for second hand. Garden furniture, garden tools, electrical appliances for the kitchen, terrace flooring and furnishings like shelves and lamps, beds, desks can be very well purchased used. You just have to search more and don’t always find something. But when you do, you save a lot. Just today I bought two folding blinds each 250cm long for a total of 100 euros. It was definitely worth waiting until I found something suitable. And so, piece by piece, the money you don’t spend adds up.

Plants for the garden can also be found cheaply on classifieds. Flooring tiles aren’t rocket science either. With these leveling systems, even hobby craftsmen with some skill can manage. All click flooring can be installed by yourself quite well. For painting work, it depends on what standards you have. Brush plaster or roller plaster works well alone, and painting in any case too. Wallpapering ceilings or covering them with paint fleece gets more difficult. Outdoor areas can also be designed at least partially by yourself after moving in, if you don’t need heavy equipment. Designing a garden yourself is also fun, I wouldn’t even consider that work.

Are there things you can easily do yourself where the savings are worth it and that are feasible? Thinking of something like plastering?

We did quite a lot ourselves. It always depends on how skilled you are with your hands. Either you already have the craft knowledge or you know someone who can show you how to do things. Plastering probably doesn't count here. It has to be done properly; otherwise, you'll annoy yourself every day.

Most things are absolutely not rocket science and can be done by amateurs if shown correctly and if a professional checks in occasionally.

DIY work we did, among other things:

Electrical: Chasing for the cables is doable for anyone. Have the electrician mark where the chases need to go. It's a huge mess, but our electrician was glad he only had to take down the cabinet. The rest might require a bit more experience, but at least when pulling cables you can help out. I bought a wall chasing saw cheaply at the hardware store, but you can also rent one from the electrician for a small fee.

Windows: You can order them from Poland and save quite a bit.

Drywall: Roof insulation, ceiling insulation, vapor barrier, plasterboard can all be done alone. Have someone show you how, then you can manage it.

ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System): Wasn't that easy and requires someone who knows what they're doing and participates.

Floors: We had tiles laid professionally, but laminate flooring can basically be done by anyone.

What you always have to keep in mind: DIY work costs time. A lot of time. Try to coordinate it so you don't cause waiting times for your craftsmen; they don't appreciate that.

Unfortunately, I haven't had my own construction project yet, but I enjoyed working on various construction sites during my studies and also liked offering myself as a helper among friends or, for example, giving "self-performance time" as a wedding gift. I can only recommend this to anyone who has the opportunity. On the one hand, I've already seen/done quite a bit and can somewhat estimate what I might be able to take on someday with my own build. And on the other hand, I now have a good reputation with many people and am sure that something will come back :) .

You can possibly do yourself:
- Insulation (between rafters, on the roof, exterior insulation including reinforcement, under floor heating, vapor barrier, ...)
- Installing battens on the roof, roofing, fitting verge flashings and gutters
- Roof windows (Velux really has idiot-proof sets with instructions like Ikea)
- Erecting scaffolding (but this could also be a liability/occupational safety issue, I’m not familiar with that)
- Chiseling/milling grooves (especially easy in aerated concrete), setting boxes, pulling cables
- Interior doors can also be installed yourself, but you have to work very precisely and be patient
- Personally, I would only tile a utility cellar/technical room, I don’t dare to do more
- I actually haven’t laid floors yet, just restored old strip parquet once. With the right tools and good instruction by a professional, that worked too.

If I could afford it, I would actually have the spackling/painting done. Although I have done it often, I hate it like the plague :D

With some things, you have to be careful because of the warranty. For example, with the roof windows, there can later be discussions with the roofer if something is not sealed properly. I tried to avoid that and kept the trades largely in one hand.