Hello,
we are planning to build a small house. A townhouse with 130m² (1400 sq ft) of living space. According to the builder, DIY work is possible. I’m quite skilled with my hands—I trained as a mechatronics technician, then worked for two years as a fitter for harbor mobile cranes, followed by further training as a technician specializing in mechatronics. Now I work as a developer in plant engineering. So when it comes to mechanics and electrical engineering, I’m well-versed and not afraid of rough work. I thought that flooring and painting would be easily manageable. The EWL Instakit should also make the electrical installation doable. Now I’m considering installing the underfloor heating myself as well. My question is, how feasible is this really? Many of you have completed a lot of DIY work. How much time, excluding planning, did you spend on:
- electrical installation
- underfloor heating
- flooring (laying parquet and tiles)
- painting
My challenge is that we’re both working full time and have a small child.
Looking forward to your answers.
Regards,
Andi
we are planning to build a small house. A townhouse with 130m² (1400 sq ft) of living space. According to the builder, DIY work is possible. I’m quite skilled with my hands—I trained as a mechatronics technician, then worked for two years as a fitter for harbor mobile cranes, followed by further training as a technician specializing in mechatronics. Now I work as a developer in plant engineering. So when it comes to mechanics and electrical engineering, I’m well-versed and not afraid of rough work. I thought that flooring and painting would be easily manageable. The EWL Instakit should also make the electrical installation doable. Now I’m considering installing the underfloor heating myself as well. My question is, how feasible is this really? Many of you have completed a lot of DIY work. How much time, excluding planning, did you spend on:
- electrical installation
- underfloor heating
- flooring (laying parquet and tiles)
- painting
My challenge is that we’re both working full time and have a small child.
Looking forward to your answers.
Regards,
Andi
F
fischaqua31 Jan 2012 21:11Commitment fees?? Where does one even pay something like that? I am currently discussing the financing with my main bank, but I don’t have to pay any commitment fees!
Pre-usage interest charges?? Where would you even pay something like that? I’m currently arranging financing with my bank, but I don’t have to pay any pre-usage interest!Pre-usage interest charges are not uncommon...
Some banks charge them earlier, others later...
If a bank doesn’t charge them, the costs are usually added elsewhere... so you might end up paying about 0.15% more interest compared to the "discount bank" that charges extra for every service...
In the end, the overall package is what matters!
It really doesn’t make sense to do DIY work if it takes you double or triple the time.That assumes you simply have enough money to have everything done by others... of course, it takes me three times as long to install a desktop in my home office compared to a carpenter... so I spend a whole Saturday on it... but I still saved about €200.
Of course, you shouldn’t plan your entire free time over weeks for this...
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perlenmann1 Feb 2012 13:21@fishaqua: I think that's almost impossible. Maybe you have a year off, but you probably can't take unlimited time! I would definitely follow up on that. And the year starts counting from the full payment!!!
@Shism: I would do the slab that way too. I can move in and then get it done. But if I have to wait longer for the move because of that, it costs money! For example, we thought about doing the tiling ourselves (or having it done). My general contractor said that would mean a tight schedule because the screed has to dry. Then there's only one week available before the installer comes!
Doing the electrical work yourself. The supervisor approves it. Who is responsible for the warranty in that case?
@Shism: I would do the slab that way too. I can move in and then get it done. But if I have to wait longer for the move because of that, it costs money! For example, we thought about doing the tiling ourselves (or having it done). My general contractor said that would mean a tight schedule because the screed has to dry. Then there's only one week available before the installer comes!
Doing the electrical work yourself. The supervisor approves it. Who is responsible for the warranty in that case?
F
fischaqua1 Feb 2012 16:44So,
I definitely do not pay any commitment fees. My bank provides a loan amount, which I draw from as needed. I only pay interest on the amounts actually withdrawn. When the house is finished and, for example, I have 30,000 EUR left, I can decide whether to keep the money or not. Even then, I have enough time. An example: my neighbor had the same situation; he built his house four years ago and had 35,000 EUR left at the end, which is still available today and he hasn’t paid a single cent of interest on it! It’s just a small local bank where everyone knows each other and everyone is just like you and me!
I definitely do not pay any commitment fees. My bank provides a loan amount, which I draw from as needed. I only pay interest on the amounts actually withdrawn. When the house is finished and, for example, I have 30,000 EUR left, I can decide whether to keep the money or not. Even then, I have enough time. An example: my neighbor had the same situation; he built his house four years ago and had 35,000 EUR left at the end, which is still available today and he hasn’t paid a single cent of interest on it! It’s just a small local bank where everyone knows each other and everyone is just like you and me!
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perlenmann1 Feb 2012 18:36wadi1982 schrieb:
Well, the question is what loan interest rate you pay. Whether it’s a local bank or a major bank, none of them operate on air and love ;-)1. So, and with which type of construction is there actually money left over?
And why should a bank just grant me the option for more money?