Hello everyone,
I’m writing because I’m feeling quite down.
My husband and I want to build a house. We already have a plot in mind. It is 400 sqm (4,300 sq ft) and located in a new development area.
Unfortunately, our budget only allows for a house costing around 220,000 euros.
So far, we have approached both solid construction (masonry) and prefabricated house companies, as well as an architectural firm and a local builder. None of them are able to build a house for this price.
We think our requirements are quite reasonable?!
Here are our details:
1 ½ stories
approximately 120-140 sqm (1,290-1,510 sq ft)
1 bathroom
1 guest WC with shower
3 bedrooms
Air-source heat pump with underfloor heating
and either an office
or a basement, but it must be built as a waterproof “white tank” (watertight concrete structure).
We would take care of painting and flooring ourselves.
Additional construction costs are not included, nor is the cost of the land.
What do you think?
Best regards, Malo
I’m writing because I’m feeling quite down.
My husband and I want to build a house. We already have a plot in mind. It is 400 sqm (4,300 sq ft) and located in a new development area.
Unfortunately, our budget only allows for a house costing around 220,000 euros.
So far, we have approached both solid construction (masonry) and prefabricated house companies, as well as an architectural firm and a local builder. None of them are able to build a house for this price.
We think our requirements are quite reasonable?!
Here are our details:
1 ½ stories
approximately 120-140 sqm (1,290-1,510 sq ft)
1 bathroom
1 guest WC with shower
3 bedrooms
Air-source heat pump with underfloor heating
and either an office
or a basement, but it must be built as a waterproof “white tank” (watertight concrete structure).
We would take care of painting and flooring ourselves.
Additional construction costs are not included, nor is the cost of the land.
What do you think?
Best regards, Malo
What exactly is included in the €220,000? If I understand correctly, it does not cover additional construction costs, exterior landscaping, flooring or wall coverings, or the cost of a new kitchen.
If that is the case, and you are not aiming for KfW 55 standard, don’t want a fireplace, and have no major special requests, it should be possible.
We are investing €225,000 just for the house, excluding flooring and wall coverings (bathrooms are excluded). However, we have almost 150 sqm (1,615 sq ft) of living space, a ventilation system, a water softening unit, a bay window, and an airtight fireplace.
If I subtract all these extras and consider the house as it was defined in the building contract, we would not even reach €200,000 for 140 sqm (1,507 sq ft) at KfW 70 standard (gas condensing boiler + solar).
If that is the case, and you are not aiming for KfW 55 standard, don’t want a fireplace, and have no major special requests, it should be possible.
We are investing €225,000 just for the house, excluding flooring and wall coverings (bathrooms are excluded). However, we have almost 150 sqm (1,615 sq ft) of living space, a ventilation system, a water softening unit, a bay window, and an airtight fireplace.
If I subtract all these extras and consider the house as it was defined in the building contract, we would not even reach €200,000 for 140 sqm (1,507 sq ft) at KfW 70 standard (gas condensing boiler + solar).
What exactly is supposed to cost 220,000 euros? Just the house or the entire construction project? (meaning the house, land, additional costs, etc.)
Just the house should be easily achievable, but probably without a basement (depending on the soil survey, a waterproof concrete shell can quickly cost around 50,000 euros).
Possibly with a basement, but then with a lot of interior work done by yourself and without landscaping.
Please provide more details!
How much equity do you have?
What does the land cost?
What exactly is the 220,000 euros intended to cover?
Just the house should be easily achievable, but probably without a basement (depending on the soil survey, a waterproof concrete shell can quickly cost around 50,000 euros).
Possibly with a basement, but then with a lot of interior work done by yourself and without landscaping.
Please provide more details!
How much equity do you have?
What does the land cost?
What exactly is the 220,000 euros intended to cover?
Hello Der Da and heltino,
the plot costs 70,000, and we have some funds set aside for additional construction costs. The 220,000 is the amount we want to finance from the bank! We don’t want to go any higher.
So the entire house construction, but without wall and floor coverings... as described above. No fireplace or anything else. *Basically* quite simple (except for the underfloor heating / heat pump)!
the plot costs 70,000, and we have some funds set aside for additional construction costs. The 220,000 is the amount we want to finance from the bank! We don’t want to go any higher.
So the entire house construction, but without wall and floor coverings... as described above. No fireplace or anything else. *Basically* quite simple (except for the underfloor heating / heat pump)!
B
Bauexperte13 Feb 2013 12:10Hello Malo,
For 120 sqm (about 1,290 sq ft), the ground floor/upper floor layout doesn’t allow for a usable attic and even at 140 sqm (about 1,510 sq ft) space will be tight; just to start with that.
I’ll take the middle ground at 130 sqm (about 1,400 sq ft) on a slab foundation:
House as a KfW 70 energy-efficient building with the requested features including the air-to-water heat pump: €210,000 (about $220,000); creating a usable attic space would be difficult, and if possible, it would more likely be a storage room. In Baden-Württemberg, budgets can be about 5% higher; so roughly €220,000 (about $230,000). If you invest an additional €6,000 (about $6,500), you can prepare the attic for future finishing (provided the roof pitch allows it); extending a normal staircase up to the attic and closing it off with a proper door. All service lines are usually extended up into the attic—you could then convert it into a living space later.
You can forget about the usable basement; that would cost around €38,000 (about $40,000), plus the cost of the waterproof structural shell (“white tank”), depending on the requirements of the relevant DIN standard, between €6,000 and €10,000 (about $6,500 - $11,000).
However—there are additional considerable costs that you have not mentioned whether you can cover with your own funds (equity):
Additional building costs: €35,000 - €40,000 (about $37,000 - $42,000)
Painting/flooring done by yourself: €10,000 (about $11,000)
Exterior landscaping/access paths done by yourself: €10,000 (about $11,000)
Reserve fund for extras: €10,000 (about $11,000)
Garage (detached): between €6,000 and €11,000 (about $6,500 - $12,000) depending on size and equipment
If you can cover these costs from your own equity—not to forget the land—I would recommend tackling a small house of max. 120 sqm (about 1,290 sq ft) living space with an attic prepared for finishing. Make sure that the knee wall is high enough and the roof pitch not too shallow. This way you can have the ground floor and upper floor fully built—except for painting and flooring—in one go, and finish the attic yourself later.
And finally, if you allow me a word of advice: €220,000 (about $230,000) for the house alone is a lot of money, but unfortunately often not enough to complete a building project. This should not discourage you; not everyone needs to build a house! And if you still want your own place, take the money and buy a condominium. If you keep it well maintained, you can later use it as equity and plan another attempt at building your own house.
Best regards
Malo78 schrieb:
I’m writing here because I’m feeling quite down... Unfortunately, our financial range only allows for a house costing 220,000 Euro... We thought our wishes were still reasonable?!
Here are our details:
1 1/2 storeys
about 120-140 sqm (about 1,290-1,510 sq ft)
1 bathroom
1 guest WC with shower
3 bedrooms
Air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating
and either an office
or a basement, but this must be constructed as a waterproof “white tank” (watertight concrete structure).
We would handle painting and flooring ourselves.
Additional building costs are not included, nor is the plot of land.
For 120 sqm (about 1,290 sq ft), the ground floor/upper floor layout doesn’t allow for a usable attic and even at 140 sqm (about 1,510 sq ft) space will be tight; just to start with that.
I’ll take the middle ground at 130 sqm (about 1,400 sq ft) on a slab foundation:
House as a KfW 70 energy-efficient building with the requested features including the air-to-water heat pump: €210,000 (about $220,000); creating a usable attic space would be difficult, and if possible, it would more likely be a storage room. In Baden-Württemberg, budgets can be about 5% higher; so roughly €220,000 (about $230,000). If you invest an additional €6,000 (about $6,500), you can prepare the attic for future finishing (provided the roof pitch allows it); extending a normal staircase up to the attic and closing it off with a proper door. All service lines are usually extended up into the attic—you could then convert it into a living space later.
You can forget about the usable basement; that would cost around €38,000 (about $40,000), plus the cost of the waterproof structural shell (“white tank”), depending on the requirements of the relevant DIN standard, between €6,000 and €10,000 (about $6,500 - $11,000).
However—there are additional considerable costs that you have not mentioned whether you can cover with your own funds (equity):
Additional building costs: €35,000 - €40,000 (about $37,000 - $42,000)
Painting/flooring done by yourself: €10,000 (about $11,000)
Exterior landscaping/access paths done by yourself: €10,000 (about $11,000)
Reserve fund for extras: €10,000 (about $11,000)
Garage (detached): between €6,000 and €11,000 (about $6,500 - $12,000) depending on size and equipment
If you can cover these costs from your own equity—not to forget the land—I would recommend tackling a small house of max. 120 sqm (about 1,290 sq ft) living space with an attic prepared for finishing. Make sure that the knee wall is high enough and the roof pitch not too shallow. This way you can have the ground floor and upper floor fully built—except for painting and flooring—in one go, and finish the attic yourself later.
And finally, if you allow me a word of advice: €220,000 (about $230,000) for the house alone is a lot of money, but unfortunately often not enough to complete a building project. This should not discourage you; not everyone needs to build a house! And if you still want your own place, take the money and buy a condominium. If you keep it well maintained, you can later use it as equity and plan another attempt at building your own house.
Best regards
Ever tried contacting or hiring companies from other EU countries?
There are certainly many unreliable providers in the industry, but skilled tradespeople in Eastern Europe can also be found, often at significantly lower costs than their German counterparts.
I highly doubt that a German company would build a house for you at €220,000 (about $240,000).
There are certainly many unreliable providers in the industry, but skilled tradespeople in Eastern Europe can also be found, often at significantly lower costs than their German counterparts.
I highly doubt that a German company would build a house for you at €220,000 (about $240,000).
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