Preliminary note: After quite a bit of browsing—also here in the forum—I know this topic has been touched on before, theoretically discussed, and eventually dismissed with the argument that building a house is never 100% predictable.
I want to try again—and then I guess I have to give up and accept that there are simply things you cannot get for money and good words.
What do I actually want???
I want to plan and have built a single-family house of about 180 square meters (1937 square feet) on an existing, fully serviced plot in Zarrentin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
I want to plan absolutely everything known, everything that can be asked and explored IN ADVANCE, and then have it all done: the house in detail, with floor coverings, painting, kitchen, bathroom, landscaping, and so on—literally everything (except furniture) that belongs to a house. I want to plan and discuss ALL of this, AND THEN, once every detail has really been finalized, hand EVERYTHING over to competent hands (a construction company? a private site manager?? ???) and set off on a world trip.
I want to come back in 6 to 12 months and find the house exactly as planned (not better, but not worse either), receive the keys, pay 100% of all costs at that point (this is not necessarily mandatory; some payments will probably have to be made beforehand or during the build), and then book the moving truck!
That can’t be so impossible!!! Basically, I just want to pay the construction company, a site manager, or someone else for handling what thousands of other homeowners have already “lived through/done” themselves.
Is there really no company offering this?
Any tips or help are very welcome!!!
Thanks & greetings (still) from Hamburg – Carsten
I want to try again—and then I guess I have to give up and accept that there are simply things you cannot get for money and good words.
What do I actually want???
I want to plan and have built a single-family house of about 180 square meters (1937 square feet) on an existing, fully serviced plot in Zarrentin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
I want to plan absolutely everything known, everything that can be asked and explored IN ADVANCE, and then have it all done: the house in detail, with floor coverings, painting, kitchen, bathroom, landscaping, and so on—literally everything (except furniture) that belongs to a house. I want to plan and discuss ALL of this, AND THEN, once every detail has really been finalized, hand EVERYTHING over to competent hands (a construction company? a private site manager?? ???) and set off on a world trip.
I want to come back in 6 to 12 months and find the house exactly as planned (not better, but not worse either), receive the keys, pay 100% of all costs at that point (this is not necessarily mandatory; some payments will probably have to be made beforehand or during the build), and then book the moving truck!
That can’t be so impossible!!! Basically, I just want to pay the construction company, a site manager, or someone else for handling what thousands of other homeowners have already “lived through/done” themselves.
Is there really no company offering this?
Any tips or help are very welcome!!!
Thanks & greetings (still) from Hamburg – Carsten
Sascha_aus_H3 Jun 2017 10:23You could try Viebrockhaus. I know couples who built with them and completed all selections in advance – they never visited the construction site even once.
I’m just not sure how the payment terms or signatures are handled.
I’m just not sure how the payment terms or signatures are handled.
P
peilerwen3 Jun 2017 11:40Great to see help being offered here without lectures or complaints (not always common)! I have rephrased my request as follows:
My Dream – Mister X
Preconditions
1. A serviced building plot is available and paid for in Zarretin, MV, with a valid zoning plan (building plan).
Finances
2. Out of an estimated budget of €350,000 (about $350,000), 50% is available in cash, with a general financing commitment for the remaining 50%. Several tens of thousands of euros are kept in cash as a reserve.
Initial Research – Brochures – Offers
3. I have contacted potential home providers, received initial brochures, and possibly some first offers.
Mister X – Consultations – Preliminary Planning – Permits – Expert Reports, etc.
4. Mister X enters the picture. He has many years of experience with land plots, local authorities, building permits/planning permissions, construction companies, tradespeople, suppliers, and if necessary, lawyers and notaries – he is an industry veteran.
He has received this email from me and knows what I want and what he is expected to do.
First, he visits the plot, researches all local conditions/special features/regulations/permits, etc. (he knows this far better than I do). I provide him with information about which houses are under consideration, and he decides whether he wants/is able to take on the job. For this, he receives an initial payment, possibly even without payment at this stage.
Then we meet to see if we have good chemistry. If yes, we proceed.
He explains to me IN DETAIL everything that must be approved/done/applied for before construction; he knows this because he is the expert. I grant powers of attorney, sign forms, and so on – and he informs me what his fee for this second phase will be, as well as the cost estimates for all necessary fees, expert reports, etc. (a range, but binding). For example, €5,000–7,000 (about $5,000–7,000), as he is the person responsible – he is in charge.
Next, he advises me precisely and finally regarding the location of the house on the plot, the house itself, the garden, and so forth.
Keeping this advice in mind, I narrow it down to maybe three potential companies, from which I then seek comprehensive advice again and request concrete offers. Ideally, everything from one source; in the worst case, house, kitchen, painting, and landscaping will be contracted separately.
At some point, for example, three final offers are on the table: X reviews them carefully to check if anything—really down to the last detail—was not considered or calculated and prepares a genuine, comprehensive all-inclusive cost breakdown for me:
Example (X): “Look, this provider includes only 20 power outlets, which is too few; the tap colors weren’t discussed; finish plastering is not included here,” etc.
Two providers remain.
For a second (or third) meeting with these providers, X accompanies me and explains/resolves all outstanding issues including costs.
Finally, X presents me with a total cost statement:
“Mr. P., your house, as discussed, will realistically cost a maximum of XXX euros (about $XXX), including all planned costs. Maybe it can be a few hundred or a thousand euros cheaper, but not more than €5,000 (about $5,000) less. Everything we discussed is considered here.”
“Shall we start?” Mister X receives the second payment – presumably several hundred euros (dollars) – regardless of whether construction actually begins now.
5. Building Decision – Start of Construction – Construction Supervision – Final Inspection
Under Mister X’s overall supervision, I choose house provider A, kitchen supplier B, paint and tile specialist C, flooring provider D, landscaping company E, XXXX, and I sign the final contracts (again under his supervision) or grant X all necessary powers of attorney.
Everything is settled and signed – construction can begin.
Hooray – I am going on a trip around the world!
From now on, Mister X is the contact person for everyone and everything – he contacts me by phone, email, preferably with photo attachments, max. 2–3 times per week. I am reachable but irregularly.
X supervises and monitors the house construction (interior and exterior) and absolutely everything related, deals with the tradespeople, motivates them with refreshments, and pushes them if they fall behind schedule.
When the house/kitchen/painting/landscaping are completed exactly as planned, he accepts the work on my behalf and authorizes payment (which I can do online). If there are defects or deficiencies, he ensures their correction and payment is made only then.
At the end, he arranges for final garden maintenance and a thorough cleaning – and informs me that I can return from my trip because my house is ready to move in.
At a closing dinner, he receives the previously agreed third final payment after the second payment – presumably several thousand euros (dollars).
Everyone is happy...
My Dream – Mister X
Preconditions
1. A serviced building plot is available and paid for in Zarretin, MV, with a valid zoning plan (building plan).
Finances
2. Out of an estimated budget of €350,000 (about $350,000), 50% is available in cash, with a general financing commitment for the remaining 50%. Several tens of thousands of euros are kept in cash as a reserve.
Initial Research – Brochures – Offers
3. I have contacted potential home providers, received initial brochures, and possibly some first offers.
Mister X – Consultations – Preliminary Planning – Permits – Expert Reports, etc.
4. Mister X enters the picture. He has many years of experience with land plots, local authorities, building permits/planning permissions, construction companies, tradespeople, suppliers, and if necessary, lawyers and notaries – he is an industry veteran.
He has received this email from me and knows what I want and what he is expected to do.
First, he visits the plot, researches all local conditions/special features/regulations/permits, etc. (he knows this far better than I do). I provide him with information about which houses are under consideration, and he decides whether he wants/is able to take on the job. For this, he receives an initial payment, possibly even without payment at this stage.
Then we meet to see if we have good chemistry. If yes, we proceed.
He explains to me IN DETAIL everything that must be approved/done/applied for before construction; he knows this because he is the expert. I grant powers of attorney, sign forms, and so on – and he informs me what his fee for this second phase will be, as well as the cost estimates for all necessary fees, expert reports, etc. (a range, but binding). For example, €5,000–7,000 (about $5,000–7,000), as he is the person responsible – he is in charge.
Next, he advises me precisely and finally regarding the location of the house on the plot, the house itself, the garden, and so forth.
Keeping this advice in mind, I narrow it down to maybe three potential companies, from which I then seek comprehensive advice again and request concrete offers. Ideally, everything from one source; in the worst case, house, kitchen, painting, and landscaping will be contracted separately.
At some point, for example, three final offers are on the table: X reviews them carefully to check if anything—really down to the last detail—was not considered or calculated and prepares a genuine, comprehensive all-inclusive cost breakdown for me:
Example (X): “Look, this provider includes only 20 power outlets, which is too few; the tap colors weren’t discussed; finish plastering is not included here,” etc.
Two providers remain.
For a second (or third) meeting with these providers, X accompanies me and explains/resolves all outstanding issues including costs.
Finally, X presents me with a total cost statement:
“Mr. P., your house, as discussed, will realistically cost a maximum of XXX euros (about $XXX), including all planned costs. Maybe it can be a few hundred or a thousand euros cheaper, but not more than €5,000 (about $5,000) less. Everything we discussed is considered here.”
“Shall we start?” Mister X receives the second payment – presumably several hundred euros (dollars) – regardless of whether construction actually begins now.
5. Building Decision – Start of Construction – Construction Supervision – Final Inspection
Under Mister X’s overall supervision, I choose house provider A, kitchen supplier B, paint and tile specialist C, flooring provider D, landscaping company E, XXXX, and I sign the final contracts (again under his supervision) or grant X all necessary powers of attorney.
Everything is settled and signed – construction can begin.
Hooray – I am going on a trip around the world!
From now on, Mister X is the contact person for everyone and everything – he contacts me by phone, email, preferably with photo attachments, max. 2–3 times per week. I am reachable but irregularly.
X supervises and monitors the house construction (interior and exterior) and absolutely everything related, deals with the tradespeople, motivates them with refreshments, and pushes them if they fall behind schedule.
When the house/kitchen/painting/landscaping are completed exactly as planned, he accepts the work on my behalf and authorizes payment (which I can do online). If there are defects or deficiencies, he ensures their correction and payment is made only then.
At the end, he arranges for final garden maintenance and a thorough cleaning – and informs me that I can return from my trip because my house is ready to move in.
At a closing dinner, he receives the previously agreed third final payment after the second payment – presumably several thousand euros (dollars).
Everyone is happy...
How literally do you mean the world trip you plan to take during the construction period? – just symbolically, in the sense that you don’t want to find a full inbox at noon with calls asking whether you prefer black, white, or gray cable ties?
Even in industries that are occasionally booming, many market adjustments are currently taking place through insolvencies (and business closures to avoid insolvency in time). The availability of customer credit is tight. With an escrow account, from which "Mister X" can make progress payments appropriate to the construction stage, I would consider the process more manageable. The (in my expectation limited) selection of suppliers prepared according to your model might have little overlap with those offering the best final product for the house. Or do you, like a teacher following stereotypes, drive a Renault because of the best financing terms?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Even in industries that are occasionally booming, many market adjustments are currently taking place through insolvencies (and business closures to avoid insolvency in time). The availability of customer credit is tight. With an escrow account, from which "Mister X" can make progress payments appropriate to the construction stage, I would consider the process more manageable. The (in my expectation limited) selection of suppliers prepared according to your model might have little overlap with those offering the best final product for the house. Or do you, like a teacher following stereotypes, drive a Renault because of the best financing terms?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Pumbaa schrieb:
Why not talk to an architect... You either have an overpriced architect or haven’t started building yet, because even during design phases 1-9, they don’t handle things to the extent you expect.