Very first floor plan draft of the ground floor

On the topic of architects: I was initially also in favor of an architect... But then I saw some architect-designed houses and heard from an acquaintance that she had to cough up a five-figure sum just for the plan. That’s when I actually distanced myself from using an architect again..

You’ve misunderstood two things thoroughly: First, the advice on the procedure: the layperson—especially in the effort to imitate the architect as best as possible—first ties themselves in knots before even starting to dance. Less is more. Second, what an architect’s fee is for. Not for drawing little plans. That’s the tiniest little fraction of what they do—even though on the other hand it’s almost 100% of what the layperson believes the architect does. By the way, you always pay the architect—better transparently than “included” in the house price. A builder "without an architect" will build your house almost exactly as it is drawn now. They just put the minimum required windows in the exterior walls and also give the second child a door (because there is no building permit for walling up children—otherwise, they wouldn’t have a problem with it), but otherwise exactly with an 83 cm narrow pantry. Every self-drawn floor plan will be built, only permit obstacles will be changed. Doors that collide with each other, rooms you can’t furnish: every customer dream is realized.

Regarding the first point, I completely agree with you, as I have seen myself in the past few weeks.

On point two: I understand that drawing up and submitting the plan according to our wishes can certainly cost a few euros. The question is, how do you find a reasonable architect? He doesn't need to do construction supervision, no tendering,... I have my trades, I just need a plan that can be implemented... With others, I have experienced that architects submit plans that cannot be approved,...

I understand that drawing up the plan according to our wishes and submitting it can definitely cost a few euros.

Again: drawing the little floor plan - even if most of the emotional weight of the builders lies on it - is only the tip of the iceberg.

The question is just, how do you find a reasonable architect?

Prick up your ears, ask around for happy builders nearby. Walk around construction areas, talk to builders by the garden fence. If necessary, ring the doorbell at beautiful houses. Ask architects for references.

He doesn’t need to do construction supervision, no tendering,... I have my trades, I only need a plan that can be implemented...

You don’t do tendering because you wouldn’t know enough craftsmen. And I can only advise all naive builders to google "Regiestunden."

With others, I’ve experienced that architects submit plans that are not approval-capable,...

But then corrections must be made until it works.

phrased differently... do I need an architect for [Leistungsphasen 1-5]?

I need an architect for service phases 1-5?

In my opinion, rather for service phases 4 to 8.

If you trust the local discussants enough to optimize your floor plan well, basically any draftsman can refine it into a "design" for you. Where you then need an architect – and I strongly advise one paid by yourself (i.e., not by the contractor) – is from the approval planning stage onwards. And in my opinion, also for awarding contracts and construction management: clients underestimate the cunning of the involved parties by a multiple of the architect's fee. As said, keyword: hourly rates and so on. This overwhelms even the boldest ambitious layman. You can’t imagine the mess made when a client without architect protection is involved. They easily recoup what was missed in profit on other construction sites. What someone who cannot assess this effortlessly usually won’t even notice (or just considers it unavoidable).

Without architects as tenderers / awarders / construction managers, you quickly add another ten percentage points of budget overruns. Even if you can do it – the house won’t be worth more to the bank as collateral – I wouldn’t want to save on that. For a single-family home, this is enough lifetime ice cream for the kids, or three times in a row for the extra cost of a bigger caravan*.

P.S. *) For those who think this is an exaggeration, the industry lives on it.

But that is the big advantage when you live in a village. I have known my plumbing company, roofing company, construction company for the shell construction,.. for years and decades. I trust them enough that I don’t worry too much. The only electrician I would have to get from "extern"... However, I can understand the argument with completely unknown companies.