Payment plan single-family house via general contractor - surprised

The payment schedule is really fair. There’s nothing to complain about. It’s almost like a single trade contract award.

In 1.1 the entire planning including the preparation of the building application is included.

Nice interpretation, but normally what really counts is what is stated in the contract.

All planning services are to be performed in advance, which I can certainly understand. I could (as I have already written earlier) live with the final payment being 10% after defect-free handover.

It is said that advance payment is to be made for all planning services,

The OP has already received plans and designs... I call that advance performance by the general contractor

And let's not interpret these 10% negatively here. The plan is great... the general contractor has already designed. Now we can also keep things in perspective... not every general contractor is eager for prepayment, you have to look at the whole package - and from what can be read here, the impression seems to be a good one

We do not know the drafts and plans, but some of what was worked out for us during the offer phase could be forgotten. The floor plan of a catalog house looked like it was altered in Paint, along with a window price list "you can choose the windows yourself." An architect had not even remotely seen the sketch, whether it would have been feasible at all... I strongly doubt it. "The architect is responsible for everything further after signing." No, we were there exactly once and not 10 times, where I also understand the salespeople.

5% off the first installment, added on to the last one... that's how I would propose it to the general contractor and would find it ideal.

We currently have three companies in the final selection, with one being the clear favorite so far. The reasons for this are - from our perspective - a good overall concept, good layouts, short travel distances, and convincing discussions. Now we have received the draft contract and are quite surprised about the payment plan.

: That reads well! At some point you have to call a spade a spade – even with 10%