Plot selection for a semi-detached house - Which one would you choose?

I'll say it straight, all the plots are pretty awkwardly cut. And on top of that, against bids ... I would think twice about it. You're supposed to pay ~750sqm at the highest bid and then have such a stupid building envelope and have to build a semi-detached house with unknown [Unbekannt].

You’re supposed to pay around 750sqm by highest bid and then you get such a stupid building window and have to build a semi-detached house with unknown [Unbekannt].

Yes, bidding is the best part: later you find out over the garden fence that the one with the smaller plot even paid more. "Makes sour people funny" probably doesn’t apply in the neighborhood ;-)

Yes, it is. Nowadays, semi-detached house builders are very rarely people who clearly understand this type of building. Rather, they are individual builders who simply have too little money for a plot with side boundary setbacks on both sides. In at least one of two dimensions (with or without a basement, solid or timber frame), a differing opinion is likely. And many want to push through their own thing out of principle.

Even whether or not to hire an architect is a point of contention. Just read around in builder forums: the majority (especially people with a tight plot budget) think that an architect will ultimately cost the money they want to invest in some extra (and believe that the builder-planner would be free).

It is obvious that a semi-detached house is bought due to lack of money. That also applies to us to some extent, since the only plot for a single-family house in this development with 1271 m² exceeds the budget. Overall, however, only two of the nearly 50 remaining plots for private individuals (semi-detached and terraced houses) have an area greater than 450 m² – namely the two that we included in our selection. And these are also “only” semi-detached houses. If we do not want to accept this compromise or risk, the development would not be suitable for us.

The building envelope will certainly not be shifted.

All right, that was to be expected.

I’ll say it straight: all the plots are pretty awkwardly shaped. And that’s also by bidding… I would reconsider that. You’re supposed to pay about 750 sqm at top bid and then have such a stupid building envelope and have to build a semi-detached house with unknowns.

Direct answers are welcome! We have already had to realize several times that people have talked themselves into plots, and an impartial view from the outside helps immensely.

Thank you all for the responses and information so far.

So, we also built a semi-detached house – bought the plot of land including the shell construction work from the bricklayer, there was already a rough floor plan, but the architect was not exactly the best, to put it mildly ;)
But that didn’t matter – we awarded all trades individually together with the construction supervisor.
We didn’t know our neighbors before the purchase either, but they are nice, like almost all families in the new development area.
We both built without a basement, and we would have done so even if they had wanted one.
We had to agree on:
- Roof tiles
- Shape of the roof underlining
- Gutter material
- Facade, meaning the exact bricks
- Window color
- Joint color

Of course, this was also due to the development plan, which could have imposed many more restrictions. So I would clarify this beforehand for a semi-detached house as well.
It often also applies: first come, first served and can choose everything, and the second one misses out ;)

since the only plot for a single-family house in this development area with 1271 m² exceeds the budget.

Oh, that sounds like a divisible size, you could approach it with a known double partner (and clarify beforehand who designs both buildings). But I don't really like the usage templates here either, so maybe rather another development area?

Yes, the plots are unfortunately shaped. But I find this pessimism unwarranted. The OP has certainly already seen and just experienced some defeats on paper because he can't afford it or because plots are not sold by the dozen in his area. You can arrange the carports in the middle, place a partial terrace and sun windows facing south, i.e. in the middle of the plot, by the way protected by the carport. After all, there is not only the standard semi-detached house. Then you don't just have the yawning emptiness of a lawn, but several garden areas. In 20 years, these gardens will look more charming than the standard north-facing yard, slapped-on carport, terrace at the back and lawn. I would take number 26, there you even have sun in the northwest in summer :)