Hello, dear forum members,
I have purchased my first own apartment, which is currently under construction, so I have little experience and would be very grateful for your help.
A basic package has been agreed upon with the developer. Custom requests come with additional costs. The extra charges now quoted in the offers seem extremely overpriced to me.
It mainly concerns the wall tiles. The basic format is 30x60cm (12x24 inches). According to the construction description, 75€/m² (7.0 USD/ft²) gross has already been calculated for the tiles themselves, including installation, and is included in the purchase price. I want different tiles.
On top of all prices, there are additional surcharges for custom requests: installation of porcelain stoneware tiles on the wall 10€/m² (0.93 USD/ft²) gross, as well as installation of rectified (square-edged) tiles for 12€/m² (1.12 USD/ft²).
Added together, the extra gross prices on top of the basic are
- for format 60x120cm (24x48 inches) +70€ (about 76 USD),
- for format 120x120cm (48x48 inches) +135€ (around 147 USD),
- for format 20x120cm (8x48 inches) +123€ (about 134 USD) (Italgraniti LUX Listello Mix Pietra, in 5 different surface patterns but same size, installed in a random pattern).
For inserting a thin decorative metal border 0.3x120cm (not included in the basic package) between the 20x120cm tiles, 82€/linear meter (25 USD/linear foot) gross is charged.
Also, for the tiles themselves, the tiler charges significantly more than I could get at the same building materials supplier myself.
It is similar with other items from my developer. For example, if I want a different shower or faucet, the plumbing installer demands an additional charge roughly equal to the retail price of the item. Identical items can be found at hardware stores or online retailers for 50-60% less. However, I am not allowed to buy there, as the responsible specialist company will not install items they did not supply "due to warranty reasons."
Has anyone had similar experiences?
What are “normal” prices for rectified porcelain stoneware wall tiles in formats 20x120cm (8x48 inches), 60x120cm (24x48 inches), 120x120cm (48x48 inches), 120x240cm (48x96 inches)?
If the specialist company responsible for certain installations (e.g., shower) is willing to install, am I required to buy from that company only? Since they source themselves through suppliers, is it allowed for the company to refuse installation of identical items that I procured myself?
Best regards from Bavaria!
alex81k
I have purchased my first own apartment, which is currently under construction, so I have little experience and would be very grateful for your help.
A basic package has been agreed upon with the developer. Custom requests come with additional costs. The extra charges now quoted in the offers seem extremely overpriced to me.
It mainly concerns the wall tiles. The basic format is 30x60cm (12x24 inches). According to the construction description, 75€/m² (7.0 USD/ft²) gross has already been calculated for the tiles themselves, including installation, and is included in the purchase price. I want different tiles.
On top of all prices, there are additional surcharges for custom requests: installation of porcelain stoneware tiles on the wall 10€/m² (0.93 USD/ft²) gross, as well as installation of rectified (square-edged) tiles for 12€/m² (1.12 USD/ft²).
Added together, the extra gross prices on top of the basic are
- for format 60x120cm (24x48 inches) +70€ (about 76 USD),
- for format 120x120cm (48x48 inches) +135€ (around 147 USD),
- for format 20x120cm (8x48 inches) +123€ (about 134 USD) (Italgraniti LUX Listello Mix Pietra, in 5 different surface patterns but same size, installed in a random pattern).
For inserting a thin decorative metal border 0.3x120cm (not included in the basic package) between the 20x120cm tiles, 82€/linear meter (25 USD/linear foot) gross is charged.
Also, for the tiles themselves, the tiler charges significantly more than I could get at the same building materials supplier myself.
It is similar with other items from my developer. For example, if I want a different shower or faucet, the plumbing installer demands an additional charge roughly equal to the retail price of the item. Identical items can be found at hardware stores or online retailers for 50-60% less. However, I am not allowed to buy there, as the responsible specialist company will not install items they did not supply "due to warranty reasons."
Has anyone had similar experiences?
What are “normal” prices for rectified porcelain stoneware wall tiles in formats 20x120cm (8x48 inches), 60x120cm (24x48 inches), 120x120cm (48x48 inches), 120x240cm (48x96 inches)?
If the specialist company responsible for certain installations (e.g., shower) is willing to install, am I required to buy from that company only? Since they source themselves through suppliers, is it allowed for the company to refuse installation of identical items that I procured myself?
Best regards from Bavaria!
alex81k
S
Sparfuchs774 Oct 2021 13:2811ant schrieb:
"Settle for the not exactly small 30x60 tiles and for heaven’s sake don’t choose them from the builder’s sample range."I have 30x60cm (12x24 inches) tiles in the utility room and I’m really glad I didn’t use them in the rest of the house. Tastes differ that much 😉 In my opinion, it has nothing to do with “settling.” But as the homeowner, I also have to accept the consequences.
- Either pay the additional cost (even if overpriced)
- Or remove the trade and hire someone else
Sparfuchs_:p schrieb:
Do you mean the prices are additional to the costs already included and also per square meter? Yes, exactly. As a basis for what is already included in the purchase price, 75 €/m2 (75 euros per square meter) for materials and installation (in my estimate about 35€ for tiles and 40€ for installation).
For special requests, an additional charge per square meter only for installation:
- for size 60x120 cm (60 by 120 cm) + 70 €/m2,
- for size 120x120 cm (120 by 120 cm) + 135 €/m2,
- for size 20x120 cm (20 by 120 cm) + 123 €/m2.
For tiles (materials), the tiler wants an additional charge on top of the base price, for example, for size 120x120 cm, another 111 €/m2. Even from the same supplier, these tiles can be bought for 110 €, but they offer a 25% discount, which brings it down to 82.50 €.
What surprises me even more is the price for the 20x120 tiles. I don’t know what is so special about these tiles; that’s why I included the full description in my question above.
RE-1407 schrieb:
I excluded the tile work from the contract and arranged for a tiler myself. By chance, it was the same tiler who works for the developer – purely coincidental.
He wanted the following prices:
Wall tile 120x120 cm (47x47 inches): €62 per m² (per square meter)
Wall tile 80x80 cm (31x31 inches): €57.12 per m² (per square meter) Thank you very much for the useful information! Were those rectified porcelain tiles?
RE-1407 schrieb:
but I am also not forced to pay him, for example, 2600 for the same water softener system that you can otherwise get for under 2000. In my case, the difference is even greater. I can buy a shower cabin myself for less than €1200 (less than $1300), while the responsible plumbing company charges more than €2000 (more than $2200) in addition to the base price.
alex81k schrieb:
Thank you very much for the useful information! Were those rectified porcelain tiles?
In my case, the difference is even greater. I can buy a high-quality shower myself for under €1200 (about $1300), but the responsible sanitary company charges over €2000 (about $2200) in addition to the base price. Yes, they are rectified porcelain tiles.
For me, it was only the difference for a conventional water softener.
In total, they wanted €13,000 (about $14,200) for all sanitary fixtures, which I purchased myself for around €8,000 (about $8,700).
I understand that a craftsman business needs to make a profit, but 30% on the water softening system and 60% or more on the rest???
I could have accepted moderate markups between 20% and 30%, but 60% is quite bold.
I politely asked the plumber if he might consider buying his Grünbeck equipment from me next time 🙂
When as a builder you are faced with two price adjustments exceeding €30,000 (about $33,000) during the construction phase, you are no longer willing to be "taken for a ride."
S
Sparfuchs774 Oct 2021 15:18alex81k schrieb:
Yes, exactly. As a base, what is already included in the purchase price, 75 €/m2 (about $80 per sq ft) for both materials and installation (in my estimate, about 35€ for tiles and 40€ for installation).
For special requests additionally per square meter only for installation:
- for 60x120 cm (24x47 inches) format + 70 €/m2
- for 120x120 cm (47x47 inches) format + 135 €/m2
- for 20x120 cm (8x47 inches) format + 123 €/m2
For tiles (materials), the tiler wants in addition to the base price, for example, for the 120x120 cm format, another 111 €/m2. Even from the same building material supplier, you can buy these tiles for 110 €, but they also give a 25% discount, so it comes down to 82.50 €.
What surprises me even more is the price for the 20x120 tiles. I don’t know what is so special about these tiles, so I included the full description in my question above. That’s crazy... just for the ground floor, without bathrooms, I would have paid 13,000 € (about $14,000) for installation alone O.O. We have 20x180 (8x71 inches) and 30x180 cm (12x71 inches) alternating. Our tiler grumbled a bit but didn’t charge extra. If I remember correctly, it was around 7,000 € (about $7,600) for the ground floor and bathrooms (walk-in showers, floors 60x60 cm (24x24 inches), walls 60x120 cm (24x47 inches)).
But a 135 €/m2 (about $15 per sq ft) surcharge for installing the larger format is seriously high. I’d probably exclude that trade and manage the installation myself.
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