Turnkey, solid house construction company wanted in the Stuttgart area

Hello everyone,
we are looking for a home construction company that will build a turnkey solid single-family house for us in the Stuttgart area. Planning (service phases 1-4) can be carried out either by our own architect or in-house by the construction company. So far, we have only come across Fermo Massivhaus in the region, who also handle everything up to the finished house through their own architects. We have had initial discussions here, and we really like the concept. Price-wise, probably Champions League.

Does anyone know other providers/have experience with such a company that offers a similar "entire range"? We have fairly concrete ideas about the floor plan and room program (200 sqm living space + presumably 50 sqm finished rooms in the basement).

Thanks in advance.

we are looking for a home construction company that will build a turnkey solid single-family house for us in the Stuttgart area.

Regarding this FAQ, just make use of, for example, here: – among others, this company is also mentioned there and confirms your assumption.

So far, we have only come across Fermo Massivhaus in the region, which also handles everything through their own architects up to the finished house. We have had initial discussions here and like the concept very much. Probably top tier in terms of price.

Planning (service phases 1-4) can be done either by your own or in-house by the construction company. [...] We have fairly concrete ideas about the and room program (200 sqm living space + finished rooms in the , probably 50 sqm). To warn about the scope of services "phases 1 to 4," I have written extensively not only in my house building roadmap but also here . Short version: 1. take your architect’s preliminary designs to a pre-selection of providers; 2. with their results, either proceed after service phase 3 to a general contractor (who then takes over from service phase 4), or let your architect continue working at least up to service phase 5; 3. beware of architects who like to offer service scope phases 1 to 4 only; 4. especially under Stuttgart conditions, you should not skimp on your own architect; 5. general contractor subcontractors are very unsuitable as architect substitutes. Keep in mind that the topography in this building area alone requires and justifies specialists (or have you found the only flat plot in this area?).

Thank you very helpful! We are currently looking at the providers. In my opinion, Fermo, U-Haus, Hauser, and Köhler would be options. I understood the hint about the architect. I also read your house schedule.

We want to build solidly, therefore the following questions: 1) where can you find a good architect (Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart and surroundings)? We have also asked friends and acquaintances for 3-4 weeks but got no recommendations here (because some were partly dissatisfied). 2) In the concrete example of a solid house with a construction company according to your schedule: In the first step you would commission service phases 1-2 and then it goes (i) to the building inquiry and (ii) to different general contractors, correct – is (ii) before or after the feedback on the building inquiry? 3) Dough resting phase. 4) and then further: I have not yet understood based on which criteria I decide when the general contractor takes over or whether I do Module B with the architect and/or the general contractor (Module B is according to the blog service phases 3-5, but elsewhere I thought I read that you would commission service phase 3 separately to the architect but the parent idea should also do service phase 5 – help I am confused.

And 5) Should the house building company demonstrably have experienced architects (with studies etc.) in-house, what would speak, from your experience, against doing it all from "one source"?

Thanks thanks!

We are currently looking at the providers. In my opinion, Fermo, U-Haus, Hauser, and Köhler would be suitable.

They sound familiar to me – I believe reflected the most comprehensive cross-section of companies.

I also read your house plan. We want to build massively,

Where you read it in the original, the way for non-binding personal questions is also included. Overall, you probably read my statements a bit too quickly; otherwise, it should have stuck with you that the construction method decision (regardless of whether and which preference you have) should not be made before the dough resting phase. I don’t want to persuade or dissuade you from any construction method but only warn against an early commitment. Trust your house design to guide you in this regard.

1) Where can you find a good architect (Ludwigsburg/Stuttgart and surrounding areas)? We have also asked friends and acquaintances for 3-4 weeks but received no recommendations here (because some were partly dissatisfied) :/

You don’t have to find the architect yourself; I do this professionally, nationwide, and also with contacts in BB/LEO. If friends and acquaintances explain their dissatisfactions in more detail, that also provides valuable clues.

2) On the specific example of a solid house with a construction company according to your plan: In the first step, you would commission phases 1-2 and then it goes (i) to the building permit inquiry and (ii) to different general contractors correctly – is (ii) before or after the feedback on the building permit inquiry?
3) Dough resting phase...

At the end of Module A, you have at least a preliminary design in hand. On this basis, the architect can submit a building permit inquiry, and in parallel, you can conduct a preliminary round of request for quotes with three/four/five construction companies/house manufacturers. It would be unwise here to select only those of the same construction method. The building authority’s response is almost romantic to call “feedback.” The responses from the requested companies regularly lead to color calibration of any rose-tinted glasses. I see no need to wait with sending out the requests for quotes until the building authority’s statement is received. All parties need time, but you only have about six to eight weeks for the dough resting phase.

4) and then further: I have not yet understood by which criteria I decide when the general contractor takes over or whether I do Module B with the architect and/or the general contractor (Module B is according to the blog phases 3-5, but elsewhere I thought I read you would commission phase 3 as a separate order to the architect, but the father of the idea should also do phase 5 – help, I am confused ;-))

The responses from the requested companies will make you more confident (or not) as to whether one of them would be a suitable general contractor – and also help clarify whether the construction method remains open or your specific house wish is better achievable with the budget in timber or masonry. Accordingly, you now know “yes, masonry” (then it continues with the architect’s design or adjustment of the GC’s construction proposal by your architect with the GC), “yes, timber” (similarly as above), or “still uncertain” (then the architect remains mandated at least through phases 5).

And 5)
If the house construction company demonstrably has experienced architects (with degree, etc.) in-house, what, based on your experience, speaks against doing it from "one hand"?

Architects, even when employed by construction companies, are always fully graduated, but there they do not offer the same quality as one would get from them in an independent office. The general contractor has a clear, concise marching order for them: get the approval stamp – that is all we need to finally start stacking stones = earning money. Therefore, as an employer for architects, the GC is at best a second choice and cannot pick the best. Mainly, you find there architects working part-time as parents or older employed architects whose former boss has closed the office. They are by no means all “bad,” but combined with the aforementioned marching order, they tend to be so (more or less).

Since you emphasize turnkey. That means all sorts of things and can mean different statuses depending on the provider. You should also find out in advance whether you want to lay floors, wallpaper, and paint yourselves or possibly add something to the house construction price.

If the house building company demonstrably has experienced architects (with a degree, etc.) in-house, what from your experience would speak against doing it all "under one roof"?

The biggest problem is the conflict of interest. In this case, you are not the client, but the general contractor. And then planning might be done in such a way that little effort or construction costs are incurred. For example, this is how I ended up with an insulation overhang instead of a frost barrier, something I would not do again in retrospect.