ᐅ Construction Project: New Build – Budget Exceeded – Any Experiences?

Hello everyone, my husband and I are planning a new build. The plot is reserved, 670 sqm (7,210 sq ft), and including site development and notary fees, the cost is almost €180,000 (approx. $195,000) (Bavaria).

An architect (a friend) designed a 1.5-story house with 165 sqm (1,775 sq ft), a partial basement, and a double garage. The estimated value is €310,000 (approx. $335,000) plus landscaping.

Well, we have now received two turnkey offers for a brick-built house including landscaping.

€505,000 (approx. $545,000) and €560,000 (approx. $605,000)!!!!

We expected that the architect’s estimate might not be exact, but where does this huge price difference come from?!

We are now well above our budget. After all, we still have to buy the kitchen, furniture, and so on.

We are considering reducing the size to 145 sqm (1,560 sq ft) or possibly managing all the contracts ourselves.

What are your experiences? Do you have any tips on how we can get this situation under control?

Hi,

first of all, that’s frustrating.

On one hand, I find your approach a bit odd. On the other hand, the two quotes you received are not completely unrealistic. You have an architect design the house for you and then get turnkey quotes. In doing so, you're basically paying the architect twice. Why don’t you go for individual contracts directly?

Regarding the price – if you had done some research in the forum beforehand, you would have quickly realized that 310k is completely unrealistic.

House: €1,800 - €2,000 * 165m² (1,775 ft²) = €297k - €330k
Partial basement: €30k - €40k
Double garage: €40k - €50k
= €367k - €420k plus additional costs

In Bavaria, depending on the region, it’s probably more like €420k or higher. Depending on the plot, landscaping can also add another €50k.

With a 10% general contractor markup, you’re pretty much at the €505k.

That seems highly negligent on your acquaintance’s part, if I understand correctly.

Please share your floor plan; it might be possible to identify and eliminate cost drivers.

Before simply reducing the total floor area, I would consider removing the garage and the partial basement. It might be possible to accommodate the building services and the utility room on the ground floor and first floor without compromising living quality.
Review the scope of work again to identify potential savings (such as a rain shower or anthracite-colored windows) or where you could provide your own labor.

Otherwise, you might want to have a look here for a similar issue
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/baukostenentwicklung-noch-normal.28743/

170 sqm (1,830 sq ft) without a basement and with a carport can be delivered turnkey by the general contractor for 350k. That’s about what it cost near us.

Exclude the landscaping since you'll end up spending all your money there...

You can see the additional costs for a garage and basement above.

Anne1983 schrieb:

An architect (a friend) designed a 1.5-story house with 165 sqm (1775 sq ft), a partial basement, and a double garage for us. Estimated value 310,000€ plus exterior landscaping.

My cat could have estimated that more accurately. Really, an architect? That should be worrying.

Base price 165 x 2,000 = 330,000
40,000 construction incidentals
40,000 partial basement
40,000 double garage
Totals 450,000 euros

And that doesn’t include any extras like a wood stove, covered terrace, garden, kitchen, possibly a cistern, or other upgrades.