ᐅ Building a Single-Family Home with an Accessory Apartment – Seeking Recommendations

Hello, we have finally purchased a sufficiently large plot of land and are now planning to build a single-family house with a granny flat (similar to a multi-generation house). Since we both work and have limited time, we do not want to find the electricians, shell construction companies, etc. ourselves, so we prefer to build a turnkey home. Soon we have appointments with 2-3 construction companies to get advice. We will choose the most competent one. We are not in a hurry to move in and could theoretically only move in 2-3 years from now, but we keep encountering the question: prefab house? Timber frame construction? Solid building?

With timber, we are concerned that it may provide insufficient sound insulation. This is especially important due to living together with our parents (separate granny flat). We are also worried about possible mold because we live only 200 m (650 feet) from a river, so groundwater might quickly penetrate.

Are there any other tips we should definitely consider? We have already sketched/designed plans (fully basement, separate granny flat about 85-90 sqm (900-970 sq ft) downstairs for our parents, 60 sqm (650 sq ft) kitchen/dining area downstairs for us, 130-150 sqm (1,400-1,600 sq ft) upstairs for us, possibly a bay window and gallery between the 1st and 2nd floors).

Maxwell8 schrieb:

We have already sketched/designed plans (fully basemented, separate granny flat of about 85-90sqm (900-970 sq ft) on the lower floor for our parents, 60sqm (640 sq ft) kitchen/dining area downstairs for us, 130-150sqm (1,400-1,615 sq ft) upstairs for us, possibly a bay window and gallery between the 1st and 2nd floors).

Then show us the plans. The description sounds rather unusual for what a general contractor’s draftsman is usually capable of. You should work with an architect; the apparent extra cost will be worth it.

Maxwell8 schrieb:

We soon have appointments with 2-3 construction companies to get advice. We will choose the most competent one. We [...] keep running into the question: prefabricated house? Timber frame construction? Solid masonry house?

How can you reliably identify the most competent of three contractors if you are still fundamentally undecided?

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Maxwell8 schrieb:

Since we both work and have little time, we don’t want to find electricians, shell construction companies, etc., on our own, so we want to build a turnkey house.

Turnkey

Maxwell8 schrieb:

The most competent one will be chosen.

Sales meetings

Maxwell8 schrieb:

We could theoretically move in only in 2 to 3 years.

Commitment interest

Maxwell8 schrieb:

With timber construction, we have concerns that it may provide insufficient sound insulation.

Sound insulation timber frame solid Ytong

Maxwell8 schrieb:

And that it might possibly develop mold since we live only 200m (650 feet) from a river.

Ventilation systems
.....
I’ll put it briefly: a lot of ignorance. It’s best to read through the related topics here in the next week, randomly and thoroughly.

Maxwell8 schrieb:

We have already sketched/planned the designs (fully basemented, separate granny flat of about 85-90 sqm (915-970 sq ft) on the ground floor for parents, 60 sqm (645 sq ft) kitchen/dining area downstairs for us, 130-150 sqm (1,400-1,615 sq ft) upstairs for us, possibly a bay window and gallery between the 1st and 2nd floors).

There is a dedicated floor plan discussion forum here!

Thanks for the suggestions. I will spend the next few weeks/months doing some research.
I created a thread for the floor plans: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/efh-mit-elw-anregungen-fuer-neulinge.38307/

Correct, I wrote turnkey. Interim interest on construction financing is irrelevant for now. I will look into Ytong and ventilation systems.