ᐅ Architects or Pre-Fabricated House Cost Estimation and Next Steps
Created on: 9 Jul 2021 23:19
M
mk_2021
Hello everyone,
We have been looking into building a house for quite some time now. The more we learn, the more overwhelmed we feel. We have a plot of land in NRW under consideration. Naturally, we want to build a house on it.
1) Our first step was to consult an architect. Overall, the appointment was very pleasant, and we felt comfortable. However, the harsh reality hit us with the first cost estimate:
Construction costs (185 sqm (1990 sq ft) at €2,600/sqm (approx. $275/sq ft) for reasonable quality): €480,000
Basement (110 sqm (1,184 sq ft) at €1,700/sqm (approx. $180/sq ft)): €190,000
Double garage: €40,000
Fireplace/stove: €15,000
Kitchen: €40,000
Additional construction costs (e.g., architect, structural engineer, soil survey, MEP planner) (25% of construction costs including garage, etc.): €180,000
Garden (e.g., pathways, paving, some hedges, terrace): €50,000
Connection fees (e.g., electricity, gas, telephone): €12,000
= €1,000,000
These figures are rough estimates only. But €1 million (about $1.05 million) excluding the land already feels quite steep. Are these values realistic?
2) After processing that, we approached a prefabricated house manufacturer and also looked into a traditional builder, Viebrockhaus.
The prefab house company showed strong sales skills in our initial meeting. A rough cost estimate was as follows:
Construction costs (185 sqm (1990 sq ft) reasonable quality): €390,000
Basement (€70,000 + €10,000 for excavation disposal; €600–750/sqm (approx. $65–80/sq ft) without finishing, +€15,000 for basic finishing): €100,000 with very basic finishing
Double garage: €30,000
Fireplace/stove: €10,000
Kitchen: €20,000
Additional costs/miscellaneous (e.g., permits, earthworks): €30,000
Garden (e.g., pathways, paving, very basic): €15,000
Connection fees (e.g., electricity, gas, telephone): not specified, so we assume €12,000 again
= €607,000
That sounds more reasonable. Could this be accurate?
The above data is meant as a first orientation. Of course, it’s possible to save money on things like the basement, but this should be comparable.
3) Price-wise, the prefab house clearly looks much better. So we pursued that further. We were advised to get plans and offers from 3–5 prefab house companies to compare. That naturally means multiple sales meetings, plus architectural consultations. Others said it’s better to hire an independent architect first and then get cost estimates from 3–5 prefab house manufacturers. We hadn’t realized that was possible. The architect in point 1) was not enthusiastic about the prefab house idea and it felt like he took it as a personal insult to the architect’s profession.
What do you think is the best way to proceed? Are there any recommendations for prefab or traditional builders in NRW known for good value for money?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Marin
We have been looking into building a house for quite some time now. The more we learn, the more overwhelmed we feel. We have a plot of land in NRW under consideration. Naturally, we want to build a house on it.
1) Our first step was to consult an architect. Overall, the appointment was very pleasant, and we felt comfortable. However, the harsh reality hit us with the first cost estimate:
Construction costs (185 sqm (1990 sq ft) at €2,600/sqm (approx. $275/sq ft) for reasonable quality): €480,000
Basement (110 sqm (1,184 sq ft) at €1,700/sqm (approx. $180/sq ft)): €190,000
Double garage: €40,000
Fireplace/stove: €15,000
Kitchen: €40,000
Additional construction costs (e.g., architect, structural engineer, soil survey, MEP planner) (25% of construction costs including garage, etc.): €180,000
Garden (e.g., pathways, paving, some hedges, terrace): €50,000
Connection fees (e.g., electricity, gas, telephone): €12,000
= €1,000,000
These figures are rough estimates only. But €1 million (about $1.05 million) excluding the land already feels quite steep. Are these values realistic?
2) After processing that, we approached a prefabricated house manufacturer and also looked into a traditional builder, Viebrockhaus.
The prefab house company showed strong sales skills in our initial meeting. A rough cost estimate was as follows:
Construction costs (185 sqm (1990 sq ft) reasonable quality): €390,000
Basement (€70,000 + €10,000 for excavation disposal; €600–750/sqm (approx. $65–80/sq ft) without finishing, +€15,000 for basic finishing): €100,000 with very basic finishing
Double garage: €30,000
Fireplace/stove: €10,000
Kitchen: €20,000
Additional costs/miscellaneous (e.g., permits, earthworks): €30,000
Garden (e.g., pathways, paving, very basic): €15,000
Connection fees (e.g., electricity, gas, telephone): not specified, so we assume €12,000 again
= €607,000
That sounds more reasonable. Could this be accurate?
The above data is meant as a first orientation. Of course, it’s possible to save money on things like the basement, but this should be comparable.
3) Price-wise, the prefab house clearly looks much better. So we pursued that further. We were advised to get plans and offers from 3–5 prefab house companies to compare. That naturally means multiple sales meetings, plus architectural consultations. Others said it’s better to hire an independent architect first and then get cost estimates from 3–5 prefab house manufacturers. We hadn’t realized that was possible. The architect in point 1) was not enthusiastic about the prefab house idea and it felt like he took it as a personal insult to the architect’s profession.
What do you think is the best way to proceed? Are there any recommendations for prefab or traditional builders in NRW known for good value for money?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Marin
Basically, this is heading in the right direction.
However, if an architect plans 40,000€ for a kitchen, I would look for a different one as soon as possible.
mk_2021 schrieb:😳
Kitchen: 40,000€
However, if an architect plans 40,000€ for a kitchen, I would look for a different one as soon as possible.
driver55 schrieb:
Basically, this is heading in the right direction.
😳
However, if an architect plans €40,000 (about $44,000) for a kitchen….I would quickly look for another one.I wonder more why the original poster doesn’t smooth out the two estimates beforehand (you can see this quite well with both kitchen prices and the costs for the landscaping) and then wonders why the numbers don’t match.Anyway, I tend to side with the architect and would say, as a first indication, take the average and work your way into the topic so that you can rely on your own knowledge and calculations rather than just picking the lower numbers.
driver55 schrieb:
If an architect budgets 40,000€ for a kitchen… I would quickly look for someone else. Why? You don’t even know what kitchen requirements the original poster mentioned. And that amount isn’t unrealistic for certain specifications to be dismissed outright. I’m just saying real wood, ceramic or stainless steel countertops, Gaggenau or V-Zug appliances, lots of cabinetry, and so on.
M
Myrna_Loy10 Jul 2021 12:17Zaba12 schrieb:
Anyway, I tend to side with the architect. I would say, as a first guideline, take the average value and familiarize yourself with the subject so that you can rely on your own knowledge and calculations rather than choosing figures that appear lower.
I agree. You can manage to achieve a middle-ground value if you stay disciplined during the selection process and give the architect clear budget guidelines. 🙂
mk_2021 schrieb:
We went to a prefab house manufacturer and also checked with a solid construction builder, Viebrockhaus.
The prefab manufacturerFirst of all, I would clarify: solid construction can be prefab, but generally isn’t. Viebrockhaus is not a prefab builder. Viebrockhaus is a general contractor (GC) who offers you a pre-designed house built in solid construction, which you can customize but don’t have to.
Because it is already pre-designed and structurally approved, it is more cost-effective. However, you can tell it’s an “off-the-shelf” product (like 90% of all houses).
If you don’t plan or want an innovative standout feature, you usually go to a GC or a regional building company.
Prefab companies mostly build using timber frame construction.
The difference between solid and prefab construction lies in the wall materials: prefab houses are assembled in 2 to 3 days, whereas solid construction is built with masonry.
Regarding additional costs: for about 185 m² (1990 sq ft) of living space, it might be worth considering if a basement is necessary at all.
Basically, it’s not wrong to first inquire about your desired budget range.
About architects: you can expect cost estimates during construction to increase by 10–20%. However, if you have a “problematic” plot, individual house planning is recommended.
There are numerous discussions on these topics here in the forum that can be found through the search function.
kbt09 schrieb:
Why? You don’t even know what kitchen requirements the original poster mentioned.Yes, I do. Nothing at all.see
mk_2021 schrieb:
Kitchen: 20k€Anyone thinking in such (lavish) terms (architect) won’t be satisfied with even 1 million.
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