Questions about the property, construction company, etc.

hello dear forum members,

we are now facing a mountain of information with no overview. There is so much info and so on that we don't know what and how to do first.

We would be grateful if you could help us with our questions :)

we want to build a house and we are currently leaning towards a wooden house. what is better and your experiences with [Holzständerbauweise], [Holzrahmenbauweise], [brettstapelbauweise]? and price differences between [Passivhaus], [Fertighaus] and [Massvholzhaus]?

and which builder or project developer has a good reputation or which one have you had good experiences with? and is there anything we need to consider?

we have found a building plot, but it is much too large and suitable for a duplex. Is it worthwhile if we look for a builder and he buys the second part of the plot? what are your experiences?

looking forward to your answers :)

Hello Phenjo,

the first part of your question is such a vast field... Where do you want to build? Experiences, even with nationwide providers, are always regionally influenced; satisfaction can vary significantly, for example, from branch to branch.

Regarding the question of whether dividing and selling a part of the plot makes sense, I recommend first clarifying the building law situation. Is it possible to divide the plot so that two detached houses can be built? Keywords: development / access / permissible extent of structural use, i.e. does the resulting plot size allow construction with the house size according to your ideas? In the case of buildability with two detached houses, the sale is much simpler and also independent of how and with whom the second part of the plot is developed.

However, if building two semi-detached houses is desired and legally permitted, I recommend first choosing or planning a suitable house type for you and obtaining offers for it. Usually, both halves must have essentially the same building geometry on the plot boundary. This can mean a gable surface with the same height and roof pitch.

With this information, you can search for interested parties or have them searched for. Only when buyers for the second semi-detached house are confirmed do I consider construction to make sense. This can also be arranged so that a developer actually acquires the second half of the plot at their own risk and sells or develops it.

In any case, it should be contractually regulated that the buyers of the second half align their planning with your house and when construction will take place. Also, consider how deep or large the second half is allowed to be so as not to affect your part. Legal advice is strongly recommended here.

It is important whether both halves are built promptly; otherwise, the wall to the neighboring building would have to be planned and built completely like an exterior wall, including insulation and exterior plaster.

For both variants, two aspects are crucial:
1. Clarify building law
2. Clarify market situation / demand – at what price is a realistic sale of the plot possible – with the condition to build within a defined period and in alignment with your planning.

One more tip regarding obtaining offers: Either you have sufficient expertise to evaluate offers for a house – or you look for external support. Even with building both halves with one company, I always recommend a clear separation in the contracts from the very beginning.