Hello!
My girlfriend and I would like to build a house.
We already have a plot of land, so the 180,000€ is only for the house itself.
Our rough idea is:
- about 140m² (1,507 sq ft) of living space
- no basement
- gable roof
- garage
- medium-level interior finishing
We have many skilled tradespeople in the family who can help, so we can contribute a lot of work ourselves.
- Masonry for the shell construction (my father and uncle have already built 3 houses)
- Installing roof battens and roofing
- Installing interior doors
- Flooring (except tiles in the bathrooms)
- Wallpapering
These are the tasks we want to do ourselves. Because I work in 24-hour shifts, I have a lot of free time—24 hours working, then 48 hours off. We can also count on experienced helpers, like my father, who built his own house about 20 years ago. However, he couldn’t give exact information about building material prices because much has changed since then.
What do you think—would this be possible? Are there any forum members who have managed to build within this budget?
My girlfriend and I would like to build a house.
We already have a plot of land, so the 180,000€ is only for the house itself.
Our rough idea is:
- about 140m² (1,507 sq ft) of living space
- no basement
- gable roof
- garage
- medium-level interior finishing
We have many skilled tradespeople in the family who can help, so we can contribute a lot of work ourselves.
- Masonry for the shell construction (my father and uncle have already built 3 houses)
- Installing roof battens and roofing
- Installing interior doors
- Flooring (except tiles in the bathrooms)
- Wallpapering
These are the tasks we want to do ourselves. Because I work in 24-hour shifts, I have a lot of free time—24 hours working, then 48 hours off. We can also count on experienced helpers, like my father, who built his own house about 20 years ago. However, he couldn’t give exact information about building material prices because much has changed since then.
What do you think—would this be possible? Are there any forum members who have managed to build within this budget?
markus270320 Feb 2017 14:29Earthworks €2,000? Did you have the perfect building site?
These are typical prices here in Schleswig-Holstein. A medium-sized company from the island of Fehmarn, which builds around 40 single-family homes per year, offers services only regionally and relies almost entirely on its own tradespeople rather than subcontractors.
The groundwork has already been billed. Instead of 2,000 euros, it is 6,900 euros due to the sloping site, but I was aware of that. He had estimated an additional 4,000 euros net. Our children built with him, as did many others I know, so everything is fine this way.
The groundwork has already been billed. Instead of 2,000 euros, it is 6,900 euros due to the sloping site, but I was aware of that. He had estimated an additional 4,000 euros net. Our children built with him, as did many others I know, so everything is fine this way.
There is a difference between building in the north or the south, as well as whether the craftsmen come from rural or urban areas.
Nordlys has all the positive extremes on its side. A small company from the region, where word of mouth, promises, and a handshake still count.
When you work with a nationwide home builder, you naturally have to cover advertising and office costs.
@Nordlys
Therefore, you shouldn’t assume that others are making a wrong choice or that your costs are achievable for everyone.
Your plot of land is generally a bargain, but it also seems somewhat remote, which is why the local community does everything to encourage families to build in the area.
Best regards in brief
Nordlys has all the positive extremes on its side. A small company from the region, where word of mouth, promises, and a handshake still count.
When you work with a nationwide home builder, you naturally have to cover advertising and office costs.
@Nordlys
Therefore, you shouldn’t assume that others are making a wrong choice or that your costs are achievable for everyone.
Your plot of land is generally a bargain, but it also seems somewhat remote, which is why the local community does everything to encourage families to build in the area.
Best regards in brief
T
toxicmolotof20 Feb 2017 15:46For 4600 euros, I couldn’t even get my materials for the electrical installation on an equity basis. But presumably, there are differences. For that price, probably only basic quality...
The topic was whether it’s possible to build a 140sqm (1,507 sq ft) house for 180,000 without including the land, assuming a lot of own work. I shared the prices as an example so the original poster can see how the different trades break down and where significant savings can be made through manual labor, skilled help, etc. I understand that if someone used Stuttgart prices, the calculation would look different. But that doesn’t matter—the proportions are what count, right? Ytong blocks should be available from building suppliers in some other location at a similar price as here. The mortar, too, and so on… I still think the project is ambitious, as I said much earlier. But with suitable building ground requiring little earthwork and good assistance, it’s not impossible. The first step is to encourage confidence—no one can do the math and make the decision for him. Don’t say outright that it can’t be done just because you can’t imagine doing it yourself.
Regarding Yvonne: No, I really don’t think others are doing everything wrong. But it does easily create the impression here in the forum that spending less than 400,000 is pointless. Our area is not isolated countryside; it’s a seaside resort with hotels, a promenade, etc. However, the land is already relatively affordable for locals at 115 per sqm (1100 per sq ft). (So you can expect a slightly larger house than in the south.) We do seem to build differently, more basic, in Schleswig-Holstein (SH) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MVP). I don’t know of any newer houses with basements. I don’t know anyone here who buys roller shutters or even app-controlled home automation. Expensive fences are rare. Simple driveways tipped with gravel are normal. The houses are smaller, ours is 13.5 by 10 meters (44 by 33 feet) as a bungalow. High knee walls and city villas are hardly seen. Many build only to KfW 55 standards or just basic. Walk-in closets and pantries are usually not included. Front doors are made of plastic (uPVC), not aluminum. The building ground is mostly unproblematic. There are slopes but moderate. All that adds up. There is certainly no right or wrong here, only: do I want that or not? Someone from MVP posted his house had cost 257,000 including land… immediately another user assumed that must mean the absolute lowest standard. My thought is: so what—if that’s the case, they live there now and are happy. What more can you ask for?
Regarding Yvonne: No, I really don’t think others are doing everything wrong. But it does easily create the impression here in the forum that spending less than 400,000 is pointless. Our area is not isolated countryside; it’s a seaside resort with hotels, a promenade, etc. However, the land is already relatively affordable for locals at 115 per sqm (1100 per sq ft). (So you can expect a slightly larger house than in the south.) We do seem to build differently, more basic, in Schleswig-Holstein (SH) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MVP). I don’t know of any newer houses with basements. I don’t know anyone here who buys roller shutters or even app-controlled home automation. Expensive fences are rare. Simple driveways tipped with gravel are normal. The houses are smaller, ours is 13.5 by 10 meters (44 by 33 feet) as a bungalow. High knee walls and city villas are hardly seen. Many build only to KfW 55 standards or just basic. Walk-in closets and pantries are usually not included. Front doors are made of plastic (uPVC), not aluminum. The building ground is mostly unproblematic. There are slopes but moderate. All that adds up. There is certainly no right or wrong here, only: do I want that or not? Someone from MVP posted his house had cost 257,000 including land… immediately another user assumed that must mean the absolute lowest standard. My thought is: so what—if that’s the case, they live there now and are happy. What more can you ask for?
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