ᐅ Builder of Solid Construction Homes or Architect During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Created on: 29 Mar 2020 22:08
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Mertha257
Hello everyone,
We are about to start building a house (rural area, Schleswig-Holstein, 60 km (37 miles) from Hamburg) and are uncertain about how to proceed due to the coronavirus crisis:
Option 1: Turnkey with a solid construction company Massivhausanbieter Viebrockhaus, because – as we assume –:
- more financially stable/crisis-proof as a large company, lower risk of insolvency
- own sample display centers with likely on-site material storage
- own trades/construction crews (no cross-border workers who currently cannot cross the border)
- relatively short construction period
Option 2: local architect/construction manager who uses local tradespeople, because:
- has known many trades in our region for decades
- very good reputation/experience
- can adapt plans more flexibly in case of illness/material shortages (has several framers, carpenters, electricians, etc. available)
- feels personally committed to the construction project
What do you think, which option would be your favorite and why?
Thank you very much for your opinions, advice, and tips!
We are about to start building a house (rural area, Schleswig-Holstein, 60 km (37 miles) from Hamburg) and are uncertain about how to proceed due to the coronavirus crisis:
Option 1: Turnkey with a solid construction company Massivhausanbieter Viebrockhaus, because – as we assume –:
- more financially stable/crisis-proof as a large company, lower risk of insolvency
- own sample display centers with likely on-site material storage
- own trades/construction crews (no cross-border workers who currently cannot cross the border)
- relatively short construction period
Option 2: local architect/construction manager who uses local tradespeople, because:
- has known many trades in our region for decades
- very good reputation/experience
- can adapt plans more flexibly in case of illness/material shortages (has several framers, carpenters, electricians, etc. available)
- feels personally committed to the construction project
What do you think, which option would be your favorite and why?
Thank you very much for your opinions, advice, and tips!
H
hampshire30 Mar 2020 23:02Regardless of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am a supporter of awarding contracts locally and have had good experiences with this myself. Owner-managed craft businesses seem structurally more resilient in the current crisis than expansion-driven companies, which may still be in a growth financing phase. This would require closer scrutiny at the moment.
The topic of "spontaneous changes" is a major temptation for undisciplined homeowners to exceed their budgets. We have also experienced this ourselves.
When estimating a budget based on an architect’s assessment, a safety margin should be included. We would definitely do that again.
The topic of "spontaneous changes" is a major temptation for undisciplined homeowners to exceed their budgets. We have also experienced this ourselves.
When estimating a budget based on an architect’s assessment, a safety margin should be included. We would definitely do that again.
Mertha257 schrieb:
Yes, we are also building in BerkenthinWhen I search in Ratzeburg, I see Heitmann as well as Hiltmann, both local construction companies.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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Grantlhaua31 Mar 2020 07:34Mertha257 schrieb:
Work is probably continuing on construction sites in the area, even though due to Corona only a few people or single trades are allowed on site at the same time. But when do you ever have 3 companies working on site simultaneously? That was almost never the case for us, and our project lasted nearly 11 months.
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hampshire31 Mar 2020 13:04Grantlhaua schrieb:
But when do you ever have 3 companies on the construction site at the same time? That was almost never the case for us, and our build also took 11 months.It happened quite often for us, but it still would have been possible with 2+ meter (6.5+ feet) spacing.Mertha257 schrieb:
Hello PyneBite, good evening to the neighborhood! Yes, we are also building in Berkenthin – that’s correct.
The topic of potential downtime has already been commented on twice before; that might actually be the case.
And yes, we also visited Viebrockhaus and ECO and found the costs quite high compared to the construction services offered. May I ask, if you preferred one over the other – Viebrockhaus or ECO?
Contracting trades individually is currently our preferred option, especially since you can probably have better control over each construction phase and explore alternatives.
Thanks for the post – have a nice evening! I think part of what I said was misunderstood – we are not building in Berkenthin! The “also” was meant to refer to your current place of residence according to your profile!
However, we are also searching for building plots in the surrounding area. It’s not very easy. Right now, we are looking at a plot near Ahrensbök, but we are still unsure whether we will buy it.
Since we live in Bad Oldesloe, we are practically neighbors.
What bothered me about Viebrockhaus was that they did not use their own craftsmen here. That was always a big advantage for me.
If we buy a plot one day, the architect will definitely have the tender for the shell construction placed with Stoll. My best friend is building with them, and many things run smoothly. The only issue was that the wrong roof tiles were ordered and installed, but that was quickly resolved.
Our current rental apartment is from Trave Bau. On the weather-exposed side, water regularly penetrates during heavy rain. I definitely cannot recommend them.
Quick off-topic question: how did you find the plot? The market here is very sparse and overheated.
PyneBite schrieb:
If we ever buy a plot of land, the architect should definitely include Stoll in the tender for the shell construction. My best friend builds with them, and many things run smoothly there.Where are they located, and how did your best friend find out about them?https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/