Single-family house optimization and planning (180 sqm + attic without basement)

Caring is exhausting.

Yes, but it is nice to have your loved ones nearby while, for example, cooking in the kitchen. I have to agree with Yvonne there. The question is whether you have to plan your house accordingly? I think a house must primarily meet the current or certainly foreseeable needs. It cannot accommodate all worst-case scenarios. When I am old and grey and have to care for my husband, I have absolutely no problem setting up the care bed in the living room. On the contrary – that would probably be my first choice. At that age, I no longer need the space for children (which I don’t have and who might play in the living room), as they would have moved out by then. And if the drama happens earlier, I would have to sell the house anyway. There are simply strokes of fate, but that is not what building a house is about in the first place.

Believe me, this is not nice. You can't even have a long chat with the neighbor, shopping has to be planned, you can't leave your partner alone. There's a lot of work behind it. And on top of that, the house and garden alone? One should not ignore illnesses but not plan for care level 4 or 5, which many do not reach.

Based on impressions from the forum and further long conversations, I sat down again and worked something out.

I have "planned" the house as 1.5 stories with 171 sqm NWF in the end. If you put the garage and terrace in 2022 and don’t do the whole thing with Viebrockhaus but on your own (we have craftsmen in the family), then it can work out. Discipline is required and KNX as well as raffstores and co can only be shopped for in offers, if at all.

KfW Eco is therefore initially out, but I would keep upgrades open for the future.

Attached is my old-school drawing.

Entrance from the west (hardly any other way) – everything included, connection for stove, but only for retrofitting, not immediately. Garage for 1 car and 2 bicycles, possible upgrade through garden shed possible.

Bathrooms rationalized and shortened. Paid attention to the connections (all on one level). Children’s room facing south. Parents’ bedroom east. Parents’ bathroom N/NW. From the parents’ bathroom a chute for dirty laundry to the utility room (saves additional utility room upstairs).

A study room upstairs, as long as no two kids are there, doesn't really matter.

1.5 instead of 2 stories.

Where I am still uncertain is about the locations of kitchen and living room. Possibly you would have to mirror here and place the kitchen to the NE and the living room to the SW. Terrace to the south.

However, we are people who like to cook and sit at the dining table. Living room actually only when we watch Tatort. There the east side is almost better since there is no light falling on the TV.

Heat would come from the stove. Potentially.

Terrace covered – project 2022. Likewise maybe garage. Need to see the calculation. Our driveway would be big enough for parking outside for 1-2 years.

What do you say?

Content-wise, I won’t say anything about your planning because I can’t look at it in detail right now, but once again about the money: when I read "if x, y and z coincide when Venus in the constellation of Aries lightly touches the 35th moon of Saturn, then it could work!" I really get goosebumps. You can and should not plan something like that down to the last detail! I also find it absolutely irresponsible to always include family in the plan. They might have other plans at that time and then you’re left standing there... Sure, if it then happens and you can save money that way, that’s a great thing, but that various (!) people are explicitly (!) included free of charge (!!!) because otherwise the entire project (!) fails... I have no words for that anymore, sorry

P.S.: I am myself a fan of planning certain things for later, when motivation and money might perhaps have grown again, e.g. terrace or carport. But don’t I remember correctly that you want a double garage? Do you know what that costs? Will 15 to 40 thousand euros (depending on wishes) really just drop out of your ass in one or two years?

Hm. Probably phrased incorrectly or didn’t come across.

A first-degree family member has a construction company. He doesn’t do it for fun and boredom, but on contract.

I want a stove, but I only install the pipes myself. Can I upgrade in 10 years or leave it?

Garage – as discussed – will not be realized and installed in this form. Possibly a prefabricated garage.

Terrace later, we focus on building the house in 2021.

In general, I find subjunctive in calculations terrible. You’re right about that. I would never plan on friends who do a bit of handiwork. You have to be clear that it’s top shelf for the price thoughts we have. More credit is always possible, interest is low. But do you want to eat liverwurst sandwiches for 30 years? (I like liverwurst, no question.)

"More credit is always possible" - Aha? Are you such solvent customers that the bank never ever puts a stop to it? In my opinion, you just have to decide what you want. You want luxury? Great! Then you have to cut back in other areas of life (unless you are Croesus). You want to lead a certain expensive life? Great! But then maybe the money is not there for the luxury place.