Single-family house, general contractor or architect - Are clueless

May I ask something about that? If you don't have any craftsmen on hand, couldn't the problem be that as a private customer you are at the very end of the food chain? So a general contractor gets his long-time known craftsmen activated faster?

And a general contractor is not always just standard, right? There are small regional (family) businesses here, where, for example, the managing director is an architect and presumably plans sufficiently individually.

Just my also layman's consideration.

If you don't have craftsmen on hand, couldn't the problem be that as a private customer you are at the very end of the food chain?

Getting craftsmen when it is really necessary is absolutely no problem. But then there is a price attached that you do not want to read.

There are small regional (family) companies here where, for example, the managing director is an architect and presumably plans individually enough.

However, the planning often follows your specifications – regardless of whether they make sense or not. Although there are also enough good general contractors. You just have to find them and notice whether the planner is basically parroting or bringing in their own ideas.

... and suddenly Neuschwanstein has already shrunk to a handy size.

Great assessment. I actually wanted a Neuschwanstein for the poor, my husband a Ponderosa. Something absolutely awful will probably come out of it with us, but the main thing is that you can live in it and we live in our desired region. I don't want to have any more demands.

So the plot is a bit more demanding. Sloping plot (the basement is completely exposed on one side - two living rooms are also supposed to go there. The orientation is south with a nice view over the city. Therefore, a large terrace is important to us. 620m² and unfortunately only 18m wide. (No development plan - or rather one has to orientate oneself on the neighboring development)

Of course, we have ideas. We have already looked at many houses. And actually also found a floor plan at KMH that appeals to us. We don't have big demands on the architecture. Precisely because we lack visions. The building expert said "You have such a nice plot, it deserves better than a boring prefabricated house" - and maybe she is right. That's why we are thinking about whether an architect might be what we need. Someone who shows us what might still be possible.

We have now discussed and will arrange a consultation appointment with an architect. Let's see what comes of it.

So the plot is a bit more demanding. Sloping plot (the basement is completely open on one side - two living rooms are also to be placed there. Orientation is south with a beautiful view over the city. Therefore, a large terrace is important to us. 620m² and unfortunately only 18m wide. (No development plan - or rather, you have to orient yourself to the neighboring development)

Then the question "architect or general contractor" is quickly answered. At least when it comes to planning - the standard construction company builds ONE house, the architect designs YOUR house. Then a general contractor can also build it according to your architect's plans.

The building surveyor said, "You have such a beautiful plot; it deserves better than a boring cookie-cutter house" – and maybe she’s right.
That’s why we are considering whether an architect might be what we need. Someone who shows us what might still be possible.

I’m in favor of that too.

Of course, we have ideas. We have already looked at many houses. And we have actually found a floor plan at KMH that appeals to us.
We don’t have high demands regarding the architecture. Precisely because we lack the visions.

What kind of ideas would those be? – Who is KMH? – A plot with its individuality significantly helps to organize visions.

May I ask something about that? If you don’t have craftsmen on hand, wouldn’t the problem be that as a private customer you stand at the very end of the food chain? So a general contractor (GU) can activate their long-known craftsmen faster?

Whether GU or architect or both, craftsmen always prefer to take the job from someone they know. You know what you’re getting – Persil

And GU isn’t always just standard? There are small regional (family) companies here where, for example, the managing director is an architect and probably plans individually enough.

A GU architect will – even if he owns the company – always pay attention to two things: first, not encouraging the client to get lost in constantly changing special whim fantasies; and second, not comparing his all-inclusive planning price to a “five-star single room private patient” level of effort. So even without a draftsman blandness guarantee, GU planning tends to be simpler. Or phrased as an 11th commandment motto: “Where the freelance architect makes a detailed drawing, the GU planner is to be expected to use drywall.”

The standard construction company builds ONE house, the architect designs YOUR house. Then a GU can also build it according to your architect’s plans.

If the architect designs and supervises construction, the GU as contractor for execution is at least not a bad choice when the architect knows him.