Plan location of house & garage within building window *Pre-planning*

Hello everyone,

due to further remarks from your side, we have now created a summary of possible desired points as well as tentative m² figures of rooms (space planning). We have also included pictures such as those of the stairwell and other things we have seen so far from the [Hausbau Glanzprospekten und Musterwunderhäusern]. The building inquiry and a development plan that I have also found have been included as well. Should any other things possibly be added?

I will probably contact two construction companies and an architect in the next few days. For one construction company, I know from an information event that they consider a kind of preliminary planning to be necessary and sensible. For the second construction company, I do not know much yet, only from acquaintances and friends that it is supposed to be very good. Last but not least, the architect, about whom I also do not know much yet, only that he is located in the direct neighboring town like the other two companies and I pass by it daily on my way to work.

It was already mentioned here that preliminary drafts (sketches) were created during the first calls or the subsequent initial meetings. But this is probably rather unusual, isn’t it, since the initial preliminary plans "actually" already involve costs or are found in performance phase 2 for architects? Or am I simply wrong here and thinking too far ahead?

Best regards, Andi

A good, committed architect will pick up a pen and sketch. You probably won't get a finished plan, but you should get a sense of how they think, whether they bring ideas, ask targeted questions, sketch something, and ask if that's what you meant, etc. So just a conversation would be personally too little for me.

A good, committed architect sometimes takes a pen in hand and sketches. You probably won’t get a finished plan, but you should get a sense of how they think, whether they bring ideas, ask targeted questions, draw something and ask you if that’s what you mean, etc. So just one conversation would be personally too little for me.

Thanks for your statement

As mentioned in your example above, it also shows that you never really know where you stand. Whether you find that out already in further conversations or only during the course of the project, you don’t know anyway. Ultimately, you certainly learn something with every conversation as with everything else and have to reinforce your feeling about the possibly right planner or architect with targeted questions.

Regarding the documents I will take with me, I have finally added a copy from the land registry office.

Best regards Andreas

That is usually quite different. One general contractor might already want a first floor plan, another plans everything with you on the PC right away because their calculation program is linked to it, one architect wants to see money for a rough sketch in the first meeting, another makes three drafts for the second meeting without issuing an invoice. What is always good: Coordinate with the respective partner in advance (when making the appointment) and clarify what expectations you and they have for the meeting, what you should bring along, and clarify very clearly whether the meeting or the result is already associated with costs. => As almost everywhere people meet, open and clear communication helps.

You can take your floor plan ideas with you, but only show them to him if he asks for them.

Good morning everyone,

The appointment was scheduled last week and even during the phone call, some things were discussed directly and very matter-of-factly (but also very pleasantly).

First, the boss himself was on the phone and immediately addressed a few important points. Among other things, explanations regarding rough costs with and without the basement or additional expenses, etc., as well as the actual processes. Since a very good friend of mine does the roofing work (carpentry/roofing) for this company, there was an immediate common topic.

Afterwards, I was able to speak with the planner, and there too, the first impression on the phone, as with the boss, was very pleasant. (This has so far confirmed the recommendations we received from our circle of friends and acquaintances). It was not a pretentious conversation here either, but again matter-of-fact and clear from the first impression, yet very pleasant. It was clarified what would be helpful to bring along as well as the services and procedures of the preliminary planning (such as, for example, inspection of the site on location to get an impression of the situation). All preliminary planning appointments are free of charge until the official award (commissioning).

Thus, we are now looking forward to the first personal direct contact and are curious about what the upcoming appointments will bring us.

Also, a draft was sketched out over one or two bottles of wine, which we would now call the actual "final" draft. Of course, open to all possible changes/ideas from the planner and, very importantly, the cost aspect. Because it was also mentioned during the phone call that she is now here to bring us back down to earth after the glossy brochures and show houses.