Stop or pause house construction? Costs too high

we chose kfw40+ because the future is completely unknown. Currently, electricity and gas prices have risen extremely. And that will not stop. That confirms that kfw40+ is the right direction.

The building envelopes are now so good that you will never make that up if you have significant additional costs. Realistic savings potential is maybe 50€ per winter from the building envelope, that covers the interest. Much more decisive is how the users handle it. Whoever sits all winter at a cozy 25 degrees in a T-shirt or likes to leave the window tilted will also generate high heating costs in a 40 house. And vice versa. Believe me, I have already gone through all these thought processes too. Find companies and get offers for both. Then you'll see if it can be worth it or not. But I can guarantee you that heating costs will not rise so much that they drive you into ruin in a KfW55 house. It rather happens if you try to insulate a basement to that level.

Amazing. Thank you very much, we were not aware of that.

Yes, unfortunately. We have been waiting for the building permit since May. Called several times, a few things also went wrong, which caused delays.
Contacted construction companies (for renovation) with our plan. There aren't many, and one offer is halfway complete. I've been on the phone with another comparison provider for weeks, and finally we will have an initial appointment in December. Since we are also extending, we would like everything from one source, but are now preparing for individual contracts. It certainly won’t get any better....

KFW approval took 4 months, but at least we have it now. So the situation is serious, but not hopeless ;-)

So, back to you: The consensus seems to be that the architect’s estimate is too expensive. He should break down where that comes from. And still, no one here can assess whether it’s really as un-luxurious as you think. Tell us a bit more. Are you planning a plain rectangle with a gable roof, or do you have many projections and recesses in the architecture? Will grandma get her own apartment or just a room? Fireplace? How is the electrical system planned? What does your room layout include?

If not, then just build 2m² smaller.

Unfortunately, 2sqm less does not correspond to the sum of 2sqm in building costs. For example, you don't need less building services.

Yes, currently it is like that. Begging for an appointment, begging for processing of the building permit, begging for an offer, following up, following up, following up. If it’s not yours, you need luck or buy an existing property.

Whoever always does the same gets always the same result. The medium is less decisive than the manner. Companies pick the projects they want to do in good times. There are a number of criteria beyond financial attractiveness. Consider why it is particularly attractive for a provider to build your house exactly and go out with exactly that story. It’s no different in the business world, if you want to be preferredly supplied in case of offer scarcity without paying much more. You will be able to choose the offers and at the same time get to know your providers much better to make a good decision.

Well, by now it is unfortunately the case here in the area that there are many people wishing to build and not enough construction companies. Most companies are booked for a long time and also take their time responding to inquiries. They can afford to. Due to the proximity to Wolfsburg, the price does not get cheaper, but the closer you get, the more expensive it becomes. Why should everyone in the area know: VW pays good money and the construction companies/architects/etc. partly think that everyone works there and earns enough. The question is also where exactly in GF you want to build, city, district? GF is not exactly small, and as mentioned, the closer to Wolfsburg, the more expensive.

I would also suggest social media as a contact medium.

I didn’t get a response to inquiries from several companies (carpenters, floor layers) either.

What do you think, how quickly they would get back to you if you wrote something like "Too bad, I wanted to have an initial meeting for our construction project, but no one has gotten back to me" under a post by the construction company ;)

When you call, ask directly who is responsible for the planned construction project, i.e. which salesperson/draftsman or similar and arrange an appointment right away. Also explicitly mention that you are already the owner of a plot of land.

Why should they turn down the inquiries? Then you’ll just be put at the back of the line and the building will proceed in order. That’s how I know it here. It won’t happen immediately, but eventually you’ll get your turn!

So, but back to you again: The consensus seems to be that the architect is overestimating the costs. He should break down where that comes from. And still, no one here can really assess whether it’s really as unluxurious as you think. Tell us a little more. Are you planning a plain rectangle with a gable roof, or do you have many projections and recesses in the architecture? Is grandma getting her own apartment or just a room? Fireplace? How is the electrical planning? What does your room layout include?

I don’t want to reveal too much and of course not mention any names.
I can imagine the architect is reading this.
He shouldn’t find out about our doubt. That’s obviously why.

The house is supposed to be a simple rectangle with a gable roof. That’s dictated by the surroundings.
Grandma is only getting one room, otherwise I would have long ago mentioned the ALW.
No fireplace is needed, but maybe the architect doesn’t know that. We only talked about things that are needed. Not the other way around. I already wrote about the electrical system, no smart home, no 200 sockets.
I don’t know how to describe the house. Well, it’s a perfectly "normal" house. Just with 200 sqm.
We said simple, nice tiles, no special brand. 40€ per sqm.
Probably we should have just gone for a catalog house right away...

Thanks to you all for the answers, my husband has something to read tonight.

We will seriously consider the kfw55. If the savings are only 50€ for the entire winter, of course it doesn’t make sense.
We were more thinking based on the rotary motor calculation.
The subsidy is significantly higher, so there is almost no difference with the kfw55.
There also aren’t many reliable sources online about this.