Hello everyone,
I have been reading here for a while and would now like to make my first post. Of course, it is a request for help, or rather, I would like to ask for some advice.
My wife and I want to build a single-family house on our own plot of land. After extensive research and searching online, we have narrowed down the choice of builder to two options. On one hand, we have a fixed-price offer from a general contractor who would build the desired house for 295,000€ (approximately 295,000 euros). On the other hand, we have hired an architect who will tender the individual trades for us and also supervise the construction.
After obtaining quotes for each trade, the total cost for the same house with the same specifications as the general contractor’s offer would be 312,000€ (approximately 312,000 euros). However, this 312,000€ is not a fixed price like the general contractor’s offer (although additional costs would likely be added there as well). The architect believes that he can negotiate these costs down significantly, so the total could end up close to the general contractor’s price.
We personally feel good about both options, perhaps slightly better about the architect. If we went with the general contractor, we would also want to hire an independent building inspector, which would be an additional cost. This would not be necessary with the architect, as he would oversee the trades hired.
So far so good, but unfortunately, our budget would not cover the 312,000€, so we would have to hope that the price can indeed be reduced. We have set a maximum limit of 300,000€ (approximately 300,000 euros), with an additional 25,000€ (approximately 25,000 euros) reserved as a final contingency, which will certainly be used for various unforeseen expenses.
Now to the actual question. Do you think it is realistic that the architect’s estimated price can still be lowered, or is this just a sales tactic to win the contract over the general contractor? What are your thoughts on comparing general contractors and architects in this context? The architect claims that the warranty period he provides is longer than the general contractor’s. According to him, he is liable for 30 years, while a general contractor’s liability might only be 5 years. Setting aside the question of whether the architect will still be financially solvent, whether his company still exists, or whether he is still alive in 30 years…
Since we are complete beginners, although we have been planning and trying to inform ourselves for quite some time, I would be very grateful for an active discussion and any advice!
I have been reading here for a while and would now like to make my first post. Of course, it is a request for help, or rather, I would like to ask for some advice.
My wife and I want to build a single-family house on our own plot of land. After extensive research and searching online, we have narrowed down the choice of builder to two options. On one hand, we have a fixed-price offer from a general contractor who would build the desired house for 295,000€ (approximately 295,000 euros). On the other hand, we have hired an architect who will tender the individual trades for us and also supervise the construction.
After obtaining quotes for each trade, the total cost for the same house with the same specifications as the general contractor’s offer would be 312,000€ (approximately 312,000 euros). However, this 312,000€ is not a fixed price like the general contractor’s offer (although additional costs would likely be added there as well). The architect believes that he can negotiate these costs down significantly, so the total could end up close to the general contractor’s price.
We personally feel good about both options, perhaps slightly better about the architect. If we went with the general contractor, we would also want to hire an independent building inspector, which would be an additional cost. This would not be necessary with the architect, as he would oversee the trades hired.
So far so good, but unfortunately, our budget would not cover the 312,000€, so we would have to hope that the price can indeed be reduced. We have set a maximum limit of 300,000€ (approximately 300,000 euros), with an additional 25,000€ (approximately 25,000 euros) reserved as a final contingency, which will certainly be used for various unforeseen expenses.
Now to the actual question. Do you think it is realistic that the architect’s estimated price can still be lowered, or is this just a sales tactic to win the contract over the general contractor? What are your thoughts on comparing general contractors and architects in this context? The architect claims that the warranty period he provides is longer than the general contractor’s. According to him, he is liable for 30 years, while a general contractor’s liability might only be 5 years. Setting aside the question of whether the architect will still be financially solvent, whether his company still exists, or whether he is still alive in 30 years…
Since we are complete beginners, although we have been planning and trying to inform ourselves for quite some time, I would be very grateful for an active discussion and any advice!
Orschel schrieb:
...@ €uro: Sorry, what is a GU / GÜ ? Is there an abbreviation list somewhere here? 😉 With a BT (building contractor), you purchase both the land and the building!
GU – General contractor; GÜ – General subcontractor
In this case, the construction services are provided by a single contractor (GU/GÜ) on the client’s (owner’s) land!
Best regards
The market regulates this – just like it does with all other aspects of daily life. You will come across cheap, affordable, and expensive offers. That’s true. We are already at the final selection stage and have sorted out many offers, which is why we are now down to these two “best” options (in terms of price-performance, trust, and recommendations). Since we don’t want to make the decision lightly, we’re trying in this last step to gather the remaining information that will help us decide one way or the other.
The quality of the site manager is, so to speak, the calling card of their client. If the manager does not work “cleanly,” their employer will not be happy with them for long, because complaints from the homeowners – especially if an external construction supervision was hired – will take up a good portion of their working time, distracting them from the other important aspects of their business. In our case, this led us last year to part ways with a partner after two projects, since every reputable provider relies on recommendations and the site manager employed by that partner is not a good reference for our industry. That’s of course understandable. But that doesn’t help me much in retrospect.
Regarding the skills of your architect, I can’t give an assessment; you will have to answer that yourself. From my daily experience, I know that in this profession, there are “good ones” and “bad ones”; that is the only reason I wanted to make you aware of this very important topic. Architects are only human after all... Sure, they’re everywhere. But if from the start I assumed I would end up with a “bad” architect, I might as well keep renting. Just as there are good and bad general contractors, there are good and bad architects as well...
B
Bauexperte22 Mar 2011 10:58Hello,
I’ll swap the positions of two of your statements, and you’ll see that you’ve already made your decision; you might just not realize it yet 😉
Kind regards
I’ll swap the positions of two of your statements, and you’ll see that you’ve already made your decision; you might just not realize it yet 😉
Orschel schrieb:with
But if I assume from the start that I’ll end up with "such" a bad architect, I’d just continue renting... 😉...
Orschel schrieb:
That’s obviously clear. But that doesn’t help me much afterward... 😉...(topic site manager)
Kind regards
Bauexperte schrieb:
Hello,
I’m switching the order of two of your statements, and you will see that you have already made your decision; you might just not realize it yet 😉
best regards Haha, yes, deep down the scale is tipping towards the architect... I think I just wanted to see if I’d get 5 messages after my post saying that the architect will never be able to get any discounts from the contractors or something like that... 😉
I’ve bought and done all kinds of things in my life, but when it comes to building a house, I’m extra cautious—or at least I hope I am—since I have only a layman’s knowledge on the subject. I’ve read and researched a lot, but still don’t know enough.
Hello orschel,
to be brief, if you want a *truly* architect-designed house in the modern sense—meaning a fully custom design with a personal touch starting from the architecture, choice of materials, building services including energy efficiency, all the way to interior finishing and furnishing—then you should definitely go with an architect. Sorry, but a standard design from a catalog offered by developers or general contractors often comes with compromises. The main advantage of using a developer or general contractor is the fixed price guarantee, which helps ensure the project runs smoothly. However, a house for life should be just that—a unique home. This is what supports going with an architect despite the *cost risk*.
to be brief, if you want a *truly* architect-designed house in the modern sense—meaning a fully custom design with a personal touch starting from the architecture, choice of materials, building services including energy efficiency, all the way to interior finishing and furnishing—then you should definitely go with an architect. Sorry, but a standard design from a catalog offered by developers or general contractors often comes with compromises. The main advantage of using a developer or general contractor is the fixed price guarantee, which helps ensure the project runs smoothly. However, a house for life should be just that—a unique home. This is what supports going with an architect despite the *cost risk*.
P
perlenmann22 Mar 2011 12:30You can also get an architect-designed house from the general contractor for a fixed price!
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