ᐅ Single-Family Home – New Construction Project from Day One – And the Planning Begins
Created on: 7 Feb 2020 22:54
D
DaSch17
Hello dear community,
For the past few weeks, I have been following this forum and have already gathered some valuable tips for our own planning.
I would like to use this thread to keep you updated from the very first day of planning until moving in. I hope to receive some valuable advice from the community and that this thread can also serve as a guide for other first-time homebuilders.
Now, a bit about our building project:
As mentioned, we are still quite early in the process...
It all started, as it probably does for most, with requesting a catalog from a prefabricated house company. In our case, it was FingerHaus around mid-December.
This was followed by a phone call with a sales representative from the mentioned company and arranging a first consultation. This appointment is scheduled for Sunday, 09.02.2020.
Since then, we have been intensively working on budget planning, possible floor plans and building plots, as well as ideal typical living space layouts.
So far, we have not purchased a plot yet. However, we are in contact with a municipality that is currently planning an expansion of a new residential area. Fortunately, this allowed us to help decide the size, location, and shape of our future plot. Our desired plot is reserved for us.
Key details of our planned single-family home:
– Location: Southwestphalia, Siegen-Wittgenstein district
– Living area: 179 sqm (1,925 sq ft)
– Concrete slab foundation
– Gable roof
– 1.5 stories with gable roof
– Single garage with extended length for tools/storage room
Our budget:
– Plot including property transfer tax: 70,000 EUR
– Construction costs: 470,000 EUR
– Additional construction costs including earthworks: 70,000 EUR
Our schedule:
– By May 2021: Selection of the construction company
– By July 2021: Contract signing, building permit / planning permission application
– By July 2023: Completion of construction work
– By October 2023: Completion of owner-performed work (painting and flooring) and move-in
We understand that the start of construction depends on the delivery time of the prefab house company, which can vary between 6 and 24 months.
We have now selected 8 different companies with whom we want to conduct initial meetings:
– FingerHaus
– Hanse Haus
– SchwörerHaus
– Bien-Zenker
– Schäfer Haus (contact via family)
– Büdenbender Haus
– WeberHaus
– a local developer
After these initial talks, we want to proceed with more detailed discussions with 4 of these providers.
–––––––––––––––––––
What should we pay attention to during the initial meetings? What is particularly important? Should we disclose our budget to the sales representatives?
For the past few weeks, I have been following this forum and have already gathered some valuable tips for our own planning.
I would like to use this thread to keep you updated from the very first day of planning until moving in. I hope to receive some valuable advice from the community and that this thread can also serve as a guide for other first-time homebuilders.
Now, a bit about our building project:
As mentioned, we are still quite early in the process...
It all started, as it probably does for most, with requesting a catalog from a prefabricated house company. In our case, it was FingerHaus around mid-December.
This was followed by a phone call with a sales representative from the mentioned company and arranging a first consultation. This appointment is scheduled for Sunday, 09.02.2020.
Since then, we have been intensively working on budget planning, possible floor plans and building plots, as well as ideal typical living space layouts.
So far, we have not purchased a plot yet. However, we are in contact with a municipality that is currently planning an expansion of a new residential area. Fortunately, this allowed us to help decide the size, location, and shape of our future plot. Our desired plot is reserved for us.
Key details of our planned single-family home:
– Location: Southwestphalia, Siegen-Wittgenstein district
– Living area: 179 sqm (1,925 sq ft)
– Concrete slab foundation
– Gable roof
– 1.5 stories with gable roof
– Single garage with extended length for tools/storage room
Our budget:
– Plot including property transfer tax: 70,000 EUR
– Construction costs: 470,000 EUR
– Additional construction costs including earthworks: 70,000 EUR
Our schedule:
– By May 2021: Selection of the construction company
– By July 2021: Contract signing, building permit / planning permission application
– By July 2023: Completion of construction work
– By October 2023: Completion of owner-performed work (painting and flooring) and move-in
We understand that the start of construction depends on the delivery time of the prefab house company, which can vary between 6 and 24 months.
We have now selected 8 different companies with whom we want to conduct initial meetings:
– FingerHaus
– Hanse Haus
– SchwörerHaus
– Bien-Zenker
– Schäfer Haus (contact via family)
– Büdenbender Haus
– WeberHaus
– a local developer
After these initial talks, we want to proceed with more detailed discussions with 4 of these providers.
–––––––––––––––––––
What should we pay attention to during the initial meetings? What is particularly important? Should we disclose our budget to the sales representatives?
Hello everyone,
After a longer break due to COVID, we have now had our second personal meeting with another home builder.
Yesterday, from 5:00 PM to 8:45 PM, we had a meeting with a consultant from the home building company Büdenbender Haus based in Netphen-Hainchen. One advantage for both sides was that we already knew the consultant casually in person beforehand (through sports), which created a relaxed atmosphere right from the start.
After the greeting, we were first asked to look around the model home on our own. This was followed by gathering our expectations for the meeting. Then the company philosophy and the overall holistic concept were explained, which should serve as a guiding thread during the planning phase. Towards the end, we were able to walk through the selection process together with the consultant to get an impression of the building components included in the construction specification and which features come with additional costs.
The concept basically includes three key elements: land, house, and financial framework... so far, so logical.
The conversation focused almost exclusively on Büdenbender Haus’s approach to the "house" project. Our personal wishes, ideas, preferences, etc., were not the focus. This allowed us to form a first personal impression of the company and the consultant without any pressure.
An important aspect of Büdenbender Haus’s holistic concept is the guiding thread throughout the discussions, which—logically—should culminate in the purchase contract. The overall process can basically be summarized as follows:
1. Initial consultation: This is focused on getting to know each other and introducing the company philosophy as well as the holistic consultation concept.
2. On-site appointment for land inspection: The potential plot is inspected together with the consultant on-site, establishing a basis for the future planning phase. This also allows better estimation of additional construction costs.
3. Recording of wishes and ideas: At the third appointment, wishes and ideas are gathered and first preliminary floor plan sketches are created.
4. Preliminary selection process: The fourth appointment involves a preliminary selection of the house. According to the consultant, this initial selection is accurate within approximately 15,000 EUR (about 16,000 USD). This means there will be no unpleasant surprises in the high five-digit range during the final selection after signing the contract.
5. Finalization of floor plans and subsequent feasibility and optimization review by architects and technical draftsmen.
6. Presentation of an offer with a detailed breakdown of costs for each construction trade.
7. Contract signing with at least a 15-month price guarantee.
Up to and including the sixth meeting, the consultation and related services provided by Büdenbender Haus are free of charge. This already involves a significant level of effort!
We particularly liked that at the end of each appointment there is an open "feedback round." This allows any issues from either side to be addressed and resolved right away. If, by the end of an appointment, either party no longer wishes to continue working together, the discussions end there.
Brief summary of pros and cons:
Pros:
- From our perspective, the conversation was characterized by openness and honesty from the very beginning.
- Competitors were not spoken of negatively; quite the opposite.
- According to the consultant, no sales commission is paid.
- Büdenbender Haus is a regional mid-sized provider (about 180 houses per year) with a good reputation in the area.
- Our consultant remains the main contact until move-in, not just until contract signing.
- Individual trades can also be contracted out externally or completed by the client themselves—there are no fixed “packages.”
- At the end, we received the “standard” construction specification and a sample purchase contract.
- They have no problem with including an expert as a building inspector.
- A performance bond is also available upon request.
- The build uses a vapor-permeable "Atmo-tec Plus" exterior wall system (sustainable, ecological, efficient); no use of plastic membranes!
- Achieving the KfW 40 energy standard is “easily” possible.
- Heating system is selected solely based on economic aspects (costs in relation to subsidies and energy consumption)—no fancy or elaborate systems.
- So far, no pressure has been applied—in fact, our impression was that the consultant was rather holding back!
- Free on-site land inspection (something no one else has offered so far) to assess feasibility and provide an initial estimate of additional construction costs.
Cons:
- At this point, we really don’t see any.
Conclusion:
With Büdenbender Haus, our gut feeling is right from the start. We can well imagine that Büdenbender Haus will make it into our shortlist.
An interesting remark was that despite—or perhaps because of—the crisis, the consultant expects house prices to continue rising. In his view, anyone waiting and betting on falling prices is not well-advised. Of course, a bit of the salesperson’s perspective comes through here.
This puts our initial appointment with Fingerhaus in a very different light. Therefore, we are currently considering whether Fingerhaus is even worth a second meeting. But for now, we will wait for the upcoming conversations. Tomorrow, we continue with a regional planning office that builds with solid construction.
After a longer break due to COVID, we have now had our second personal meeting with another home builder.
Yesterday, from 5:00 PM to 8:45 PM, we had a meeting with a consultant from the home building company Büdenbender Haus based in Netphen-Hainchen. One advantage for both sides was that we already knew the consultant casually in person beforehand (through sports), which created a relaxed atmosphere right from the start.
After the greeting, we were first asked to look around the model home on our own. This was followed by gathering our expectations for the meeting. Then the company philosophy and the overall holistic concept were explained, which should serve as a guiding thread during the planning phase. Towards the end, we were able to walk through the selection process together with the consultant to get an impression of the building components included in the construction specification and which features come with additional costs.
The concept basically includes three key elements: land, house, and financial framework... so far, so logical.
The conversation focused almost exclusively on Büdenbender Haus’s approach to the "house" project. Our personal wishes, ideas, preferences, etc., were not the focus. This allowed us to form a first personal impression of the company and the consultant without any pressure.
An important aspect of Büdenbender Haus’s holistic concept is the guiding thread throughout the discussions, which—logically—should culminate in the purchase contract. The overall process can basically be summarized as follows:
1. Initial consultation: This is focused on getting to know each other and introducing the company philosophy as well as the holistic consultation concept.
2. On-site appointment for land inspection: The potential plot is inspected together with the consultant on-site, establishing a basis for the future planning phase. This also allows better estimation of additional construction costs.
3. Recording of wishes and ideas: At the third appointment, wishes and ideas are gathered and first preliminary floor plan sketches are created.
4. Preliminary selection process: The fourth appointment involves a preliminary selection of the house. According to the consultant, this initial selection is accurate within approximately 15,000 EUR (about 16,000 USD). This means there will be no unpleasant surprises in the high five-digit range during the final selection after signing the contract.
5. Finalization of floor plans and subsequent feasibility and optimization review by architects and technical draftsmen.
6. Presentation of an offer with a detailed breakdown of costs for each construction trade.
7. Contract signing with at least a 15-month price guarantee.
Up to and including the sixth meeting, the consultation and related services provided by Büdenbender Haus are free of charge. This already involves a significant level of effort!
We particularly liked that at the end of each appointment there is an open "feedback round." This allows any issues from either side to be addressed and resolved right away. If, by the end of an appointment, either party no longer wishes to continue working together, the discussions end there.
Brief summary of pros and cons:
Pros:
- From our perspective, the conversation was characterized by openness and honesty from the very beginning.
- Competitors were not spoken of negatively; quite the opposite.
- According to the consultant, no sales commission is paid.
- Büdenbender Haus is a regional mid-sized provider (about 180 houses per year) with a good reputation in the area.
- Our consultant remains the main contact until move-in, not just until contract signing.
- Individual trades can also be contracted out externally or completed by the client themselves—there are no fixed “packages.”
- At the end, we received the “standard” construction specification and a sample purchase contract.
- They have no problem with including an expert as a building inspector.
- A performance bond is also available upon request.
- The build uses a vapor-permeable "Atmo-tec Plus" exterior wall system (sustainable, ecological, efficient); no use of plastic membranes!
- Achieving the KfW 40 energy standard is “easily” possible.
- Heating system is selected solely based on economic aspects (costs in relation to subsidies and energy consumption)—no fancy or elaborate systems.
- So far, no pressure has been applied—in fact, our impression was that the consultant was rather holding back!
- Free on-site land inspection (something no one else has offered so far) to assess feasibility and provide an initial estimate of additional construction costs.
Cons:
- At this point, we really don’t see any.
Conclusion:
With Büdenbender Haus, our gut feeling is right from the start. We can well imagine that Büdenbender Haus will make it into our shortlist.
An interesting remark was that despite—or perhaps because of—the crisis, the consultant expects house prices to continue rising. In his view, anyone waiting and betting on falling prices is not well-advised. Of course, a bit of the salesperson’s perspective comes through here.
This puts our initial appointment with Fingerhaus in a very different light. Therefore, we are currently considering whether Fingerhaus is even worth a second meeting. But for now, we will wait for the upcoming conversations. Tomorrow, we continue with a regional planning office that builds with solid construction.
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nordbayer28 Apr 2020 12:02Warning: covert advertising :-p
N
nordbayer28 Apr 2020 12:05DaSch17 schrieb:
An interesting statement was that the consultant expects house prices to keep rising despite, or even because of, the crisis.What else is the seller supposed to say? Suggestion: "At the moment, I’m selling almost nothing, and in a few current buyers’ cases, financing could potentially fall through in the worst case. So you can at most use this to pressure me during price negotiations."
nordbayer schrieb:
Warning: covert advertising From our perspective, yesterday’s conversation seemed almost too good to be true. Naturally, expectations for the upcoming appointments with the company are now quite high... Whether they can be met remains to be seen.
nordbayer schrieb:
What else is the salesperson supposed to say?
Suggestion: "At the moment, I’m selling almost nothing, and for a few current homebuyers, their financing could fall through in the worst case. So you can only put limited pressure on me during price negotiations."You’re probably right again there.
DaSch17 schrieb:
Our advantage, as well as theirs, was probably that we already knew the advisor personally in a casual way (through sports) beforehand, which created a relaxed atmosphere from the very beginning. This inevitably reminds me of the words "because I was an idiot and on first-name terms with this guy" by Winfried Ismair from Gerhard Polt’s Sport Palace speech about his leasing contract.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
nordbayer schrieb:
Warning: covert advertisingWell, it does read a bit like a press release, that cannot be denied DaSch17 schrieb:
According to his own statement, the consultant does not receive any sales commissionAs a fellow athlete, you probably know what car he drives and what’s on the license platehttps://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/