ᐅ Building an End-Terrace House as a Self-Managed Project with a General Contractor
Created on: 27 May 2019 10:48
G
goalkeeper
Hello everyone,
some of you might have already followed one of my threads about us having to or being allowed to build our end-terrace house on our own responsibility – depending on how you look at it. This means that we are buying an end-terrace plot (215 sqm (2315 sq ft)) in a new development area in the Rhein-Neckar district and will be building on it ourselves – but in coordination with our two terrace neighbors.
The municipality, which sold the plots through a local resident model, ideally wanted applicants to apply as a complete housing group with several families and then build accordingly with a general contractor, construction manager, or architect. Of course, that didn’t really work out, so now there are only individual applicants and also homeowners.
After we were awarded the plot, the addresses of the other terrace neighbors were shared to discuss certain matters, such as roof style, whether or not to have a basement, etc. It was immediately clear that everyone preferred to do their own thing. However, we were still able to agree that the housing group will have a gable roof with a pitch of 35 to 40 degrees (within this 5-degree range).
As the end house, we will build without a basement, while the middle house and the other end house will have basements. This obviously presents a challenge as we would have to make a deep foundation or simply skip it, and the middle house would have to support us, as we will start construction first. The current agreement with the middle house is that we will build a deeper foundation at his expense, as supporting our house later on would be considerably more expensive for him.
We are currently close to signing with the construction manager, the notarization appointment for the plot is at the end of June, and we hope to start construction in the fall of this year. Meanwhile, several other freely planned housing groups are being built around us, which might get in the way with their cranes.
I will document the progress here from time to time – such a self-planned terraced house doesn’t come along very often.
some of you might have already followed one of my threads about us having to or being allowed to build our end-terrace house on our own responsibility – depending on how you look at it. This means that we are buying an end-terrace plot (215 sqm (2315 sq ft)) in a new development area in the Rhein-Neckar district and will be building on it ourselves – but in coordination with our two terrace neighbors.
The municipality, which sold the plots through a local resident model, ideally wanted applicants to apply as a complete housing group with several families and then build accordingly with a general contractor, construction manager, or architect. Of course, that didn’t really work out, so now there are only individual applicants and also homeowners.
After we were awarded the plot, the addresses of the other terrace neighbors were shared to discuss certain matters, such as roof style, whether or not to have a basement, etc. It was immediately clear that everyone preferred to do their own thing. However, we were still able to agree that the housing group will have a gable roof with a pitch of 35 to 40 degrees (within this 5-degree range).
As the end house, we will build without a basement, while the middle house and the other end house will have basements. This obviously presents a challenge as we would have to make a deep foundation or simply skip it, and the middle house would have to support us, as we will start construction first. The current agreement with the middle house is that we will build a deeper foundation at his expense, as supporting our house later on would be considerably more expensive for him.
We are currently close to signing with the construction manager, the notarization appointment for the plot is at the end of June, and we hope to start construction in the fall of this year. Meanwhile, several other freely planned housing groups are being built around us, which might get in the way with their cranes.
I will document the progress here from time to time – such a self-planned terraced house doesn’t come along very often.
What a discussion about plot size and the disadvantages of terraced houses.
Many forget that large plots and houses need to be maintained, cleaned, and looked after—not only now but also in old age, when issues with the back, knees, and hands can arise.
Considering that these builders in their mid-thirties previously lived in 2-3 room apartments with a balcony and suddenly have to manage 700-900 sqm (8,000-9,700 sq ft) of land with 160-200 sqm (1,700-2,150 sq ft) of living space, I know who will be sitting on their terrace enjoying it after an hour of gardening and who will still have to keep working for another three hours.
Especially if they have never done this before or only know about it from hearsay or their parents.
So, both have advantages and disadvantages, which many forget, but bigger usually means more work.
Many forget that large plots and houses need to be maintained, cleaned, and looked after—not only now but also in old age, when issues with the back, knees, and hands can arise.
Considering that these builders in their mid-thirties previously lived in 2-3 room apartments with a balcony and suddenly have to manage 700-900 sqm (8,000-9,700 sq ft) of land with 160-200 sqm (1,700-2,150 sq ft) of living space, I know who will be sitting on their terrace enjoying it after an hour of gardening and who will still have to keep working for another three hours.
Especially if they have never done this before or only know about it from hearsay or their parents.
So, both have advantages and disadvantages, which many forget, but bigger usually means more work.
Basically, you are right.
Technology (robotic lawn mowers, automatic irrigation systems, robotic vacuum cleaners...) can simplify many things. When you get older, you can always hire a cleaning service occasionally or a gardener once or twice a year.
In the worst case, you sell the house when you get older and move into an apartment with an elevator and concierge service.
Technology (robotic lawn mowers, automatic irrigation systems, robotic vacuum cleaners...) can simplify many things. When you get older, you can always hire a cleaning service occasionally or a gardener once or twice a year.
In the worst case, you sell the house when you get older and move into an apartment with an elevator and concierge service.
rick2018 schrieb:
Basically, you are right.
With technology (robotic lawnmowers, automatic irrigation, robotic vacuum cleaners…), a lot can be simplified. When you get older, you can still occasionally hire a cleaning service or a gardener once or twice a year.
In the worst case, you sell the house when you’re older and move into a flat with an elevator and concierge service. Handling the basic tasks with technology is certainly possible. However, gardening still involves kneeling, bending, and standing.
Selling the house sounds simple now and is logically the right decision. Nevertheless, older people often don’t do it because of their attachment to the house, even if they can no longer manage it.
P.S. A cleaning lady alone won’t be enough for you.
What people choose to do or not do as they age is entirely their own decision. But nothing is mandatory.
We also have a 1000 sqm (10,764 sq ft) lawn, fully grown in. Of course, it requires work—basically. However, we use a robotic lawn mower and automated irrigation. That makes a big difference.
Pruning a bush or tree once every two years is quick. If I don’t get to it one year, then I do it the next. Or not at all. So what?
Alternatively, you can design the garden as a low-maintenance wild garden. In any case, I will never, like the neighbor, trim lawn edges on my knees or dig out clover. That either results from a poorly planned garden or personal compulsions. Even with a large garden, I spend a lot of time sitting on one of my terraces, or in the sunroom during drizzly weather, or on the wooden bench under the tree in the back. Sometimes I lie under the apple tree and take a nap.
We also have a 1000 sqm (10,764 sq ft) lawn, fully grown in. Of course, it requires work—basically. However, we use a robotic lawn mower and automated irrigation. That makes a big difference.
Pruning a bush or tree once every two years is quick. If I don’t get to it one year, then I do it the next. Or not at all. So what?
Alternatively, you can design the garden as a low-maintenance wild garden. In any case, I will never, like the neighbor, trim lawn edges on my knees or dig out clover. That either results from a poorly planned garden or personal compulsions. Even with a large garden, I spend a lot of time sitting on one of my terraces, or in the sunroom during drizzly weather, or on the wooden bench under the tree in the back. Sometimes I lie under the apple tree and take a nap.
Zaba12 schrieb:
Considering that those building in their mid-thirties previously lived in 2-3 room apartments with a balcony and suddenly have to manage 700-900 m² (7,535-9,688 sq ft) of land with 160-200 m² (1,722-2,153 sq ft) of living space, I know who will be sitting on their terrace relaxing after one hour of gardening and who still has to work hard for another three hours.Is your wife really so heartless that she can watch you work so hard and just relax?https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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