Why don't construction prices go down?

The laughter will surely be yours.

If you have no clue, at least you can pretend you do. It will make an impression if you show up on the construction site with a spirit level.

What do you think is smarter: going to the auto repair shop as a man with some expertise or as a blonde woman? Surely you will be served politely.
But will you be served correctly, or which of the two is more likely to be ripped off?

Trust is good, control is better. Comrade Lenin already knew that.

By the way, the construction workers couldn't care less, because as a rule their client is the general contractor or the architect. The builder has absolutely no say, at most he can ask politely.

Well, if the architect is the client, then he is also the general contractor and therefore only secondarily wears the "architect" hat. In traditional architectural construction, the builder is the client.

But on the subject of construction costs (I resisted the temptation to ask a technical question about windows here): the current assessment from Deutsche Bank and others is that the ECB will start cutting key interest rates in early 2024. So 2025 could see the construction industry (and thus inflation-related costs) going upwards again.

current assessment from Deutsche Bank and associates is that the ECB will start lowering key interest rates in early 2024. So the construction industry (and thus the inflation-driven costs) could pick up again in 2025.

This aligns with my information from the major Swiss banks. At the latest, interest rates should go down by 3Q24.

Well, if the architect is the client, then he is also the general contractor and thus only secondarily wears the "architect" hat. In classic architect-designed construction, the client is the client.
(...)

Sure. However, the leverage you have over a craftsman is usually vastly overestimated, especially when it comes to the shell construction and you want or have to finish.
Because what would be the consequence in this case?
The wall is wrong, and if you're not lucky or clever enough to have the floor slab done by a different company than the masonry, then the mason will not continue until this issue is resolved.

You just have to see when it’s worth making a fuss, namely substantial, construction-damaging defects... or when it’s only about having to shrink the kitchen cabinets by 10 cm, which is usually absolutely no problem, because base cabinets come in 40, 50, 60, 80, 90, and 100 cm widths. For an additional charge, I believe you can even get 70 cm from some manufacturers.

Starting a dispute with the shell builder because the kitchen unit measures 3.98 instead of 4.01 m... okay, if you don’t need to live in the house within the next 2 or 3 years, go ahead. Most likely, even courts would rule that changing the wall is disproportionate to the damage.

Matches my information from the big Swiss banks. Interest rates should start going down by 3q24 at the latest

Well, the FED and ECB first have to ask our two forum experts for permission. Without their approval, nothing in the financial world works at all.

Starting a quarrel with the shell builder

And instead tolerate everything?

Presumably, even courts will rule that a change to the wall is disproportionate to the damage.

How high the damage to the company would be - no idea. However, the costs for a new plan and possibly adjustments to the kitchen will be covered ;)