Refusal of building acceptance due to outstanding work?

The thread progression has clearly shown by now why the attitude "I won't pay the final installment because of small stuff, won't accept anything, or withhold an unreasonable amount of money," which I’ll call the hit-and-run method, isn't always the best.

The original poster actually wants to move in at some point too — more precisely, in three weeks. If that’s not possible, for practical or formal reasons (acceptance granted through moving in, etc.), it has very different consequences for him than chasing after a plasterer.

So stay a bit more relaxed and don’t just see things as black and white. You can’t finish a house in stubborn mode.

Good point. Presumably, both parties have to come towards each other. But I still want enough security so that I can get the plaster done as soon as possible.

There is no clear drawing of how the windows are to be installed. The window manufacturer decided to install the windows with the venetian blinds set deeper, which of course looked impossible.

With staggered windows, I initially thought of lateral shifting - because even I sometimes have brief lapses in recalling threads by heart - but in this case, it is outward pushing, and that mainly affects the reveals and the roller shutter box. These are clearly additional efforts for which the interior plasterer is not responsible. If the general contractor argues with him over this because he has to fix it for free, I understand the interior plasterer. If the internet had a homepage, your construction story would have to be pinned there: as a warning about building with architects (because draftsmen don’t make execution plans). Your example clearly shows that the benefit of the architect does not depend on whether the house is to become a design object, but not least on being a preventive construction director. But console yourself: you only saved in the wrong place when planning one house, @goalkeepers the mayor did that for an entire development area, and now the builders have to add one and a half meters of soil there - that doesn’t even get done in three weeks

With offset windows, I - because even I sometimes have small lapses in memorizing threads - of course first thought of a lateral offset; but here it is about an outward pushing, and this mainly concerns the reveals and the roller shutter box. These are clearly additional efforts, which the interior plasterer is not responsible for. If the general contractor argues with him about this because he should redo it for free, I understand the interior plasterer. If the internet had a homepage, your construction story would have to be pinned there: as a warning for building with architects (because draftmen don’t make execution plans). Your example clearly shows that the benefit of the architect does not depend on whether the house is supposed to become a design object, but not least on that of a preventive construction director. But take comfort: you only saved at the wrong place when planning one house, @goalkeepers mayor has done this for an entire housing development, and now the builders have to add one and a half meters of terrain there - that is not even done in three weeks

Well, I had assumed that EVERY house construction is accompanied by an architect. And the architect was also involved (albeit only minimally and reluctantly, which was probably the worst thing about this construction, much more could have been achieved). That no execution plans were made would not be the problem here for me. Rather the lack of communication from the trade with me as the client. All this could have been avoided by a simple call. The window fitter acted on his own and we did not like it.

Well, I can understand that the plasterers don't want to make any changes for free. They have apparently fully completed their task. The general contractor would have to come to an agreement with the window installer as to whether he covers (at least partially) the costs for the plasterers or possibly shifts the costs onto you if it can be interpreted that you did not point out in advance the requirement for corresponding interior window sills. I don't know what is considered standard-compliant in this case and what is not. As a plasterer, I certainly wouldn't do anything at my own expense.

Well, I had assumed that EVERY house construction involves an architect. And the architect was involved as well [...] That no execution plans were made, I wouldn’t really see as the problem here. Rather, it’s the lack of communication from the tradesman with me as the builder. All of this could have been avoided by a simple phone call. Instead, the window installer acted on his own and we didn’t like it.

A house is built with an architect precisely when the client commissions a freelance architect. A foreman is paid by his general contractor exactly to avoid communication with the client that invites complicating special requests. And a window installer certainly does not earn his money by seeing his customer service niche in this omission – otherwise, he would quite soon lose the general contractor. Because from the general contractor’s calculation perspective, this is not a bug, but a feature. Anyone who wants to be treated as a privately insured client must go to a freelance architect – mind you, also without the goal of a design award hut. The re-routed downpipe is the bread and butter of the little house builder, GU means “outside there are only little pots,” and since the latter clashes with roller shutters, the result is “extra costs for perversity” ;-(

You had written that you hired a painter, right? The same company did the painting for me that also did the tiling and plastered the drywall. One wall was "crooked," 1cm over 1.5m... you could see it because it was a toilet and there was a (correctly aligned) built-in wall with a tiled surface in front of it. The varying width then caught the eye. As a result, the painters quickly replastered the wall accordingly and evened out the one centimeter.

Why I’m writing this: maybe your painter can do that too? Wouldn’t it be a pragmatic solution if he could take care of it? He’s already working in your house anyway. Replastering a few window reveals won’t cost much effort. Offer your general contractor to split the cost (half as a retention or something like that).

You need a pragmatic solution; you want to move in soon. If you have to pay for your apartment for a month longer, you’ve basically thrown that money away.

And yes, the same happened to me—towards the end of the construction phase, money is extremely tight. But there’s no way around it. Better to grit your teeth and come up with a few hundred euros than to have endless trouble.

I also think it’s an exaggerated expectation that a trade working with a general contractor calls you on their own and asks how things should be done. Another case where it would have been good to show up on site, talk to the people, have a coffee, and ask them to get in touch if anything is unclear...