Removal of the crane on the sidewalk

Does the construction company already know its luck that it is supposed to sign the application alone? Just because you agree on that with the caseworker doesn't mean the managing director agrees with it too?

Why is it still my approval, even though it was submitted and signed by the responsible company?
At least that’s how I understood it from the caseworkers. The person who submits and signs the application is the one who is legally responsible. This does not necessarily have to be the property owner.

Approval? – I was talking about "agreement." If the construction company submits the application, of course they are also the applicant. I did not expect that. I assumed that the building authority had "lost interest" in your contractor and would now agree to a new application if you submitted it. But fine, if the authority is playing along like that, I don’t want to "stop it."

Could you please clarify this point a little? Should I appoint someone to supervise the general contractor? What kind of job is that?
Is it a full-time position or just regular visits to ensure everything is in order? [ / ]
OK, so this is an expert who evaluates the work performed and, if necessary, orders corrective measures, right?
Is it normal for the civil engineer to be well informed about all trades during the house construction, or should there be another person for the different phases?

No, exactly what 11ant wrote, I have nothing to add to his wording "Value added Webcam."

This is an unstandardized job where the main thing is that it’s done well. I called it "Value Added Webcam" because your "avatar" is primarily your extended eye and can expertly give you input on when and how you should intervene. Their visits should only be regular in terms of traffic safety obligations and more occasion-related regarding the work; for this, they need a construction schedule and execution drawings, as well as current knowledge of any changes. Ideally, it should be a retiree who benefits from being needed. Whether you choose a civil engineer or foreman for this is secondary. It’s better not to pick a metalworker since construction is about whole centimeters, and a Latin teacher would probably not be taken seriously and wouldn’t have the relevant experience to compensate for your layperson status. Prefer the second-best candidate within walking distance to the construction site over a top expert from the next town over.

Just because you agree on this with the clerk doesn't mean the managing director does too?

This is a mutual agreement between the 3 parties (GÜ, clerk, and me).

I assumed that the building authority "lost interest" in your contractor and would now agree to a renewed application if you submitted it.

One of his concerns was that the GÜ did not feel responsible for compliance with the regulations. He wanted to hold them responsible so that they would take the matter seriously.

This is a non-standard "do-it-as-you-please" job – the main thing is that it is done well. I called it "Value Added Webcam" because your "avatar" is mainly your extended eye and can expertly give you input on when and how you should intervene. His visits should only be regular with regard to traffic safety obligations, and more occasion-related with regard to the work.

OK, that makes sense.
If I don’t personally know someone who is qualified for this task, how/where could I find someone?

In my opinion, you forgot the point that, from my perspective, competent and reliable people usually rely on others to also do their job competently and reliably.

One would think so. But what I have experienced in the 12 months since we started building, no one believes me except my neighbors who have witnessed some of it and were even partially able to see it.

My husband and/or I were also regularly on the construction site, but "actually" only to replenish drinks, food, etc..

We did that at the beginning too, but after certain incidents (trash stuffed into the hollow bricks, half sandwiches thrown into the light well, etc.) we stopped. We still regularly serve coffee.

We were always available as contact persons for all topics, but avoided giving the impression that we were controlling anything.

Most decisions are made on site at the construction site. Of course we didn’t do inspection rounds while the craftsmen were there, unless something major caught our attention. But we addressed deviations from the standard without bias. For example, they started installing non-airtight boxes in the external walls – but since the 2014 Energy Saving Ordinance this is mandatory. Empty conduits from the cold roof and through the building envelope were not sealed, ventilation ducts sloped away from the house instead of towards it (condensate drainage direction), and many, many other such details that ultimately influence the quality, comfort, and efficiency of the house.

However, this was the first time in our lives dealing with craftsmen, maybe it’s different in that trade.

I grew up in a family with a craft business ;-)

And yes, of course it is an advantage to live close to the construction site, but if that is not the case, you have to get someone on board for that. I repeat myself when I say that this is the biggest and probably most important investment in life, and I have no understanding for recklessness along the lines of: "It will be fine, they know what they are doing." WilderSueden put it very aptly: whoever cannot or does not want to take over construction supervision (outsourced), may be better off buying an existing house. I absolutely agree with that.

WilderSueden put it quite aptly, whoever cannot or does not want to take over construction supervision (outsourced) might be better off buying an existing house. I absolutely agree with that.

I definitely did not say that, only pointed out that not everyone can be on the construction site permanently. An existing house is not necessarily the solution here either. With relatively new used houses in good condition, it is indeed a help. But with major renovation cases, you have the same problem. Building further away from your place of residence is simply inconvenient, but for many, financially mandatory. An expert also helps only to a limited extent. They might come for maybe 10 appointments. In my opinion, the only solution is to work from the outset with individual contracts and your own site manager who comes to the construction site every day. With a general contractor, the problem cannot be solved economically.

How did my building inspector say after dictating the umpteenth at-least-to-be-clarified topic to my long list? "Anyone who believes that a construction manager manages the construction also believes that a lemon butterfly folds lemons."

How often have I brought a fresh pot of coffee and cookies to the respective trade after the building inspector's visit and asked whether insulation doesn't actually belong between the pipe laid yesterday and the brick - usually followed by a highly surprised "uhhh yes, of course, we were just about to do that" and a frantic phone call to order the insulation. You don't even notice something like that if you look at it like an Amazon delivery and only inspect it at the final acceptance.