Save costs without (manual) own efforts?

Depends on the BU,... Our prefab house provider does not build basements themselves. Therefore, they passed on this order with a margin. We then took it out and awarded it ourselves. Result: minimal cost savings, but a lot of hassle, time investment, communication problems, and so on, but about €5,000 could be saved on €50,000. We organized construction electricity, construction water, including rental equipment ourselves, which saved us money because we did it together with the neighbors. One water connection and one electricity connection were enough for us. If you are building in a development area, there are often synergy effects with neighboring construction sites.

Thank you for your answers. A relatively clear picture is emerging: saving is only possible on the wishes related to the house. Once these are fixed, there is little room for maneuver on the price...

Also the type of contract. For example, prefabricated house, contract with [GU], or architect with individual award have a great influence

You have to do the math like this. Let’s assume the construction service description lists 60 sqm of tiles. Tile price up to 25 per sqm. That’s quite typical. Now the contractor offers you a tile at 31, which you like. Give 360,- extra charge. Such a tile, or very similar, is now at obi for 26,- ok. That would be 300,- savings. Peanuts. But what really brings something would be the extra charge from Braas Harzer Pfanne to Tegalit glazed, 5200,- euros net. Plus commission to Schäuble. Money is being burned in these items. Another hotspot lurks at the sanitary specialist trade. Remember, there are already toilets and basins in the standard. If thousands add up through upgrading, take the standard, move in, and don’t let the janitorial service tear that stuff out and replace it with goods from Ikea Obi Bauhaus within half a year. By the way, there are also fair sanitary guys who call up markups in the Obi range. A mounted glass door in front of the shower 700,- gross, brand goods, is quite ok, that’s the price from ours. But here in the area there were other examples too. Kitchen, money is burned there as well. Kitchen studios are a sector close to the red-light milieu, the bigger the worse. If it’s not going to be Ikea, at least plan a kitchen with their online planner so you get a sense of price, and something to use for bargaining. We have a Swedish kitchen. First impression, goods good to very good, the IKEA assembly service not so good. Everything fits, but only on the third try. Karsten

When awarding the individual trades directly, one is, in my opinion, more flexible. In addition to what has been said so far, I can only emphasize the following once again.

1. Negotiate every contract hard.
2. Always include comparative offers. Especially for kitchen and furniture, it is worthwhile to have the same configuration offered multiple times by local visits to the seller.
3. Tiles for indoor and outdoor areas can possibly be negotiated better by yourself than through the craftsman.
4. Doing nothing is always the easiest, but also the most expensive way.

I am not a fan of hard negotiating, I am a fan of "fair for both sides." I neither want to be ripped off nor do I want bargains at the expense of the craftsmen. If someone offers me prices from the start that clearly deviate from this, there is no further discussion for me, then I look for another partner or supplier. On the other hand, I also try not to push anyone who is already in the reasonable price range any further.

That’s why I love the Internet... no annoying negotiating, just buy ;) I have already done it this way with my new car, but unfortunately not yet possible with the house ;)