Stop or pause house construction? Costs too high

Nice post! It is indeed surprising how quickly supposed "small things" can drive the price up into the five-figure range, which might have been in the four-figure range years ago.

As a layperson, one often simply lacks the imagination for what is costly and what is not. Then it can happen that wishes, which actually seem quite "modest" to someone, swallow enormous sums. That's how one easily makes a mistake. I find it funny in this context to use the term "sacrifice." As if one were losing something to which one had a claim. The focus is directed toward what one would like to have and simply does not realize. It leads to people feeling deprived while fulfilling the dream of owning a home. How stupid is that, really? Someone who complains that they can only afford a 300HP car and would actually prefer 600HP will hardly be pitied. Someone who builds a house without a pantry, dressing room, garage, and with incompletely designed outdoor facilities has a reason to be happy and does not need to complain that rising prices have led to their not being able to fulfill all their wishes.

Anyone who builds a house without a pantry, dressing room, garage, and with incompletely designed outdoor facilities has a reason to be happy and should not complain that the increased prices meant they could not fulfill all their wishes.

But those who prefer to be unhappy and even pitied rather postulate the dogma that every Neuschwanstein must be built in a single construction phase. And that, even though many of the building owners here discussing their bling bling villas were not even born yet when Gitte's "I want everything" was in the charts (1982) :)

The point at which one realizes that wishes and budget do not match is probably experienced by every builder. A cut list as well. I can only grin about many things we crossed out. Nothing is really missing – just that one light switch. If I haven’t overlooked it, however, the OP did not provide any list that would justify the price in any way.

The floor plan was offered by ypg to look for cost drivers, and the equipment can only be guessed.


Go through your room program and your equipment. Look for saving opportunities. Specify for each item whether it is necessary, nice to have, or dispensable. Ask yourselves whether there are cheaper alternatives. The hardware store showerhead cleans just as well as the built-in XXL rain shower. Don’t reduce the number of sockets and switches, but first use the simple switch program. Often there are options if you are a bit flexible in your ideas.

The point at which one realizes that wishes and the wish budget do not match is probably experienced by every builder. A cut list as well. I can only grin about many things we crossed out. It’s not really missing – just that one light switch. If I haven’t overlooked it, however, the OP did not provide a list that justifies the price in any way.

Ypg had offered to look at the floor plan for cost drivers, and the equipment can only be guessed.

Go through your room program and your equipment. Look for saving opportunities. Define each item as necessary, nice, or dispensable. Ask yourselves if there are cheaper options. The hardware store showerhead cleans just as well as the built-in XXL rain shower. Don’t reduce the number of sockets and switches, but initially take the simple switch program. There are often options if you are somewhat flexible in your ideas.

Whereas I advocate not saving too much on things that are difficult or nearly impossible to renew later. I include, for example, floor coverings and windows.

Is even still present? Given the scale discussed at the beginning, it probably won't be just about the switch program and showerhead model. I boldly claim that over 80% of the costs are determined by the design itself. If you get fancy with building projections/recesses, bay windows, dormers, corner glazing, unnecessary circulation areas, site layout including access roads, and possibly terrain modeling, etc., going to the hardware store won’t help anymore. Also important nowadays (even though this topic is controversially discussed here) are insulation standards, building services, and the associated funding level.

When the topic of building came up for us, I first devoured books about compact and low-budget building. Although we then didn’t do either, you get a good sense of what to watch out for. An outstandingly positive example of what can be achieved with consistent cost optimization and still (or precisely because of that!) build an individual, beautiful, and practical house, for me, is

Is @Coffee82 still present at all?

Up to page 22, was still diligently reading everything. So afterwards left the discussion, as no expected answers came...