ᐅ New Single-Family Home Construction: Is It Advisable to Hire a Private Architect in Advance?

Hi!

Here is the situation:
We want to build a single-family house. It will be a prefabricated house using a timber frame construction.
We already have a building plot in the town center in consideration and are close to purchasing it. However, I want to first make sure that we can actually build our dream house on this plot.
There is still an old house in poor condition on the plot, as well as a barn and a masonry double garage with a laundry room.

We plan to demolish the barn and build the house there.
However, the double garage with the extra room is in the way.
Now we have two options:
1. Demolish the garage and build our house (which is not yet finalized) new, with floor plans like those in the catalog.
- I would prefer not to do this because the garage is probably worth around 20,000€ (about 20,000 USD).
2. Somehow integrate the garage into the construction of the single-family house.
- This is my preferred option.

Regarding option 2:
Is this even feasible with a prefabricated house? If yes, how could it affect the overall cost of the house?
Does anyone here have experience or can provide an assessment?

Furthermore, I am wondering whether it would make sense to have an architect who is not involved in the construction come to the site to check the conditions and possibilities in person.
I do not yet know which manufacturer we will build with but would still like to understand in advance the opportunities, challenges, etc. that the plot might present.

Best regards,
phobos

Hello,

phobos schrieb:

I’m still wondering whether it makes sense to involve an architect who isn’t otherwise involved in the construction to visit the site and check the conditions and possibilities on location.

If you want to integrate old building structures into the new construction, it is definitely advisable to involve an architect.
And why not include the architect fully in the process?

Best regards

And why not involve the architect completely?

You mean in addition to all the people from the general contractor? Chances are one of them has already been hired.

My main concern is to find out whether a single-family house can be built on this plot.
Can an architect determine that without having specific experience with single-family houses?

phobos schrieb:
You mean in addition to all the people from the general contractor? There’s probably already one ordered from them anyway.

.....I would leave out the general contractor 😉

phobos schrieb:

Can an architect say that without having specific experience with prefab houses?

He should be able to say that. Building a prefab house isn’t a complicated matter.
But why does it have to be a prefab house (that word again! :confused 🙂?

I would simply ask a reliable prefabricated house manufacturer. Ours employs its own architects who can assess whether something like that is possible or not. They can probably also give you an estimated cost range before you sign anything.

But I think the old structure will need to be checked for structural integrity first.

Hello,

phobos schrieb:
There is still a house in poor condition on the plot, a barn, and a brick double garage with a laundry room. We plan to demolish the barn and build the house there.

And what will happen to the "house in poor condition"?

phobos schrieb:
2. We want to somehow integrate the garage into the construction of the single-family house.
- I would prefer that.
Regarding point 2:
Is this even feasible with a prefabricated house? If yes, how could that affect the overall cost of the house?
Does anyone here have experience or can share their assessment?

If the existing house is in poor condition, you should clarify how this relates to the garage. Have you taken care of this already?

Not every prefab house provider can or is willing to build onto or modify existing structures; usually, this is not their practice. This means you probably won’t find a seemingly cheap provider willing to take on such a project.

phobos schrieb:
I am wondering if it makes sense to involve an architect—who will not be responsible for the construction—early on, to assess the site conditions and possibilities in person. I don’t yet know which manufacturer I will build with but would still like to understand the potential options and challenges related to the plot in advance.

As I have been following this thread, I keep wondering whether you have already consulted your local building planning office to clarify what your options are for redevelopment at all?

Kind regards