Recommendations for a construction company or general contractor near Offenburg/Lahr

Thank you very much for your reply. Your reply reassured me because I already thought I was overreacting, and my architect wanted to make me feel that it was normal. At the beginning, he didn’t say at all that he wanted to hand over to the general contractor from performance phase 5. There was never any talk of a general contractor and you even mentioned that even if I agreed, they would also like to do the construction management. And now suddenly they want to do performance phase 5 and that’s it. When I was surprised that performance phase 5 takes 5-6 months, he gave me the impression that I was hurrying too much and that time must be allowed. By the way, we took a good 10 months for the planning until submission for approval :( , so I know that when he already says 5-6 months now. We signed a contract at the beginning for performance phase 1 to performance phase 4. And we wanted to apply for performance phase 5 to performance phase 8 during the approval phase.

There was never any talk of a general contractor (GU) and you even mentioned that although I agree, you would also like to do the construction management. And now suddenly you want to do design phase 5 and that's it.

Such a turnaround is a pity. Whether one wants to take a GU is only determined in design phase 7.

At the beginning we signed a contract for design phases 1 to 4, and wanted to apply for design phases 5 to 8 during the approval phase.

That was unwise, now you are “left dumb” all alone. What does the architect say about how he envisions this: are you supposed to find a GU yourself with the plans from design phase 5?
In any case, I would politely decline because, as mentioned, design phases 5 and 8 logically belong together. Hiring the architect individually just for design phase 5 would normally at least be less bad than being left alone after design phase 4. But under the premise that he wants to take forever to do it, one almost has to classify it as a “defensive offer,” and in my opinion it’s not worth the money and time. But as I said, for searching for a GU, the approval plans alone are still little use, because the tender is definitely "not a shallow-end pool." You can (see post #3) feel free to contact me.

Hello and thank you very much for the answer. So, my architect himself recommended that he handles service phase 5 and then passes it on to the general contractor from service phase 6 onward. He says he will not do the construction management and thinks it makes sense if the general contractor takes over everything. The reason I also want to do service phase 5 with the general contractor is because of time. My architect says he would be able to complete service phase 5 at the earliest in 5-6 months. I know the work in service phase 5 is not little, hence also 25% of the total sum. But 5-6 months seems really long to me. Therefore, the idea was whether to do it directly with the general contractor.

It is also a question of price. Your general contractor will not reimburse you much if you remove service phase 5. If the architect wants HOAI, you just end up paying more in the end. Some general contractors also want to do the detailed design themselves so that the plans "fit" the general contractor's offer.

Your general contractor will not refund you much if you remove service phase 5.

??? You could only remove what would be included.

Some general contractors want to do the detailed planning themselves so that the plans "match" their quote.

"Detailed planning by the general contractor" is an almost dramatically big word for the instruction to the ceiling supplier where recesses for openings are to be made. A detailed planning by the architect will suffer the fate of being unread if the architect does not come back in service phase 8 to monitor its consideration.

So, I have to write about this topic now as well, that it is very difficult for prospective builders to find the right way...

On the one hand, the architect, and to put it mildly, things just go slowly here... every discussed change in the design planning takes weeks and is only implemented incompletely. If the architect approaches the awarding of contracts and site management with the same enthusiasm, then good night... And who guarantees me that the architect is even capable of recruiting craftsmen?

On the other hand, the general contractor (GU), with them everything goes faster, the price is "recognizable" but otherwise it’s all a black box.... Parquet for 40€ now means what? Which doors, which heating manufacturers, does he decide everything or do fantasy surcharges appear...

I don’t know myself what to do, but I do know that the architect has not helped me with decision-making so far...

So I have to write about this topic now, too, that it is very difficult for prospective builders to find the right path....

And you think you can help them by spreading your personal architect trauma in their threads?

I don't know what to do myself but I know that so far the architect hasn't helped me with decision making...

I would have long ago offered you my support if it weren't for the word "if": I just can't get rid of the fear that you yourself might be (part of) your problems. There are indeed incompetent architects, yes, but beyond a certain level of bad luck, I lose my firm belief in pure coincidence.