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?
P
pagoni20208 Oct 2020 10:24DaSch17 schrieb:
Of course, taste is subjective. I liked it well enough in the model homes. However, it’s not ideal for a future stairlift... There are countless options for stairlifts; this would just be one possible or necessary adaptation in old age or illness that might become necessary at some point. I consider the common tendency to define age-friendly design mainly by stairlifts, door widths, etc., to be inappropriate unless it is part of a coherent plan aimed at addressing a specific disability or limitation.
In my opinion, age-appropriate building should already start with the choice of the building plot location.
Viewed this way, you would likely have to give up many other things in your project or implement them accordingly, which might not currently make sense visually or financially.
Of course, it might happen that you specifically need a stairlift. But an unlimited number of other situations can also arise, which you should at least consider in advance.
I hardly know anyone who has installed such a lift or could not manage without one; usually there are other or multiple simultaneous limitations.
Therefore, I would not design the house in such a way that I have to live with a staircase shape I don’t like or that limits other options for the rest of my life.
If such an emergency occurs, installing a stairlift is probably the lesser problem.
Schimi17911 Dec 2020 09:48DaSch17 schrieb:
It all started, as it likely did for most, with requesting a catalog from a prefabricated house company. For us, that was Fingerhaus in mid-December.We once visited an exhibition of Fingerhaus in Frankenberg. However, we found all the model homes displayed very impractical and somewhat sterile. Of course, you can incorporate your own ideas, but it didn’t convince us because the houses lacked character. That said, character may develop over time...
DaSch17 schrieb:
The key details of our planned single-family house:
– Construction location: Southwestphalia, Siegen–Wittgenstein districtCoincidentally in the Siegen area?
Schimi1791 schrieb:
We visited a FingerHaus exhibition in Frankenberg. However, we found all the model homes shown to be rather impractical and somewhat sterile. Of course, you can include your own ideas, but it didn’t convince us since the houses lacked character. Although, character may develop over time...As mentioned, the contact was generally very friendly and attentive. However, we got the impression that our building project didn’t quite fit FingerHaus’s standard. In my opinion, they tend to build somewhat smaller and less intricate single-family homes—which is perfectly fine (just not a match for us).
Schimi1791 schrieb:
By chance, around Siegen?Sort of... Wittgensteiner Land.
Schimi17911 Dec 2020 13:18DaSch17 schrieb:
Jaein... Wittgensteiner Land.Then Bad Berleburg... 🙂
Since we found a house with a layout that completely convinced us, we decided against building a new one.
Schimi1791 schrieb:
Since we found a house with a layout that completely convinced us, we decided against building a new one.You can really consider yourselves lucky... 🙂
Schimi17912 Dec 2020 13:01We are at least very satisfied with the house. Fortunately, it includes a bit more ... 🙂
Some modernizations and renovations will certainly take place over the next few years. However, there is no urgent need at the moment.
Some modernizations and renovations will certainly take place over the next few years. However, there is no urgent need at the moment.