What are the next steps for the new single-family house construction project?

Hello everyone,

I am currently considering what the next steps for our new construction project could look like. Specifically, I want to avoid services being awarded twice or committing myself too early, for example by commissioning the structural engineering, due to the still unclear construction execution (prefabricated house, turnkey solid construction, individual contracts with architect, etc.).

The current status is that I have just submitted the building permit with an architect (commissioned step by step according to HOAI). The architect has now issued his first invoice (10,000€) and I have an offer for the structural engineering (also possible to commission step by step). Should I commission this now or should I first obtain offers from construction companies so that I know in which construction method the house will be built and which services might possibly be included? However, the structural engineering also includes the static supervision of the demolition.

So commissioning the structural engineering now would be the right thing to do, wouldn’t it?

Should the architect then already start with the execution planning?

By the way, a single-family house is being built ([Reihenhaus with 180sqm living space]).

Best regards, Martin

By the way, a single-family house (terraced house) is being built

How should one imagine that? The other builders each have their own architect or own building companies, thus different ones who then start without coordinating with each other?
A structural engineer doesn’t make sense if you don’t even know yet whether the house will be built solidly or with a timber frame construction. Accordingly, different building materials with various unknown load-bearing properties are used. Besides, every general contractor, if you hire one, has their “own” structural engineer, or it is often included in the price. This also applies to architects, by the way, but well… you can often forget them.

just submitted the building permit.

You mean the building application :)

You mean the building application

Exactly, building application. However, I am wondering what was submitted there when you don’t even know if it’s solid construction or timber frame etc., and therefore don’t (exactly) know the wall thicknesses and ultimately the living area. :rolleyes:

I am just wondering,

I wondered that too. I thought it would be clarified later in the discussion. It may also be that under certain constellations and conditions it does not matter. Ultimately, you have boundaries on the left and right anyway.

That will be fun for the bricklayers when stones have to be cut at every corner and every opening. The first thing I see is the decision about the construction method. Under certain circumstances, it seems that not all prefab builders want to attach their houses to others' houses.

How should one imagine that? The other builders each have their own architect or their own building supervisors, so different ones, who then start without coordinating with each other?

Exactly, and whoever starts last has the big trouble. And if the one builds with a basement, the neighbor will have one too, see ;)

So it is exactly 182 sqm. And of course I meant building application…..

By the way, the neighbors are not building. Everything is old stock. And if the basement question comes up again now with reference to the well-known forum posts…. I already know them….

Otherwise, I will probably have to talk to the architect again about why he already needs the structural engineer now. He knows the situation and I will have to trust him then. The architect is not a crook either… I just thought I would get one or two more perspectives or explanations here.

Thanks anyway.