ᐅ Cost Planning for Earthworks

Stefan001 schrieb:

Lesson 1: Nobody cares about anything!
If you get the feeling that something is unplanned or not coordinated, it probably is.
Always ask questions, always insist on clarification!
Even if your site manager builds 100 houses a year, there will still be things that are not planned or discussed. You are really the only person you can rely on during the build.

And no one else will give it a second thought!

Unfortunately, this all sounds very negative and much more pessimistic than how building a house is usually imagined. But in the end, you are absolutely right! No one else will have to live in the house except us, and that’s how we are being treated.

But it wasn’t meant to be quite that naive either. First, the soil assessor needs to visit the plot, then the groundwork contractor (who in my case is more like a “superstructure builder”...), and only then can the house manufacturer start planning the foundation slab. This still has to be coordinated with the utility providers, who have their own contractors to bring (waste) water and electricity to the house. That’s definitely going to be interesting!

Hafenstraße schrieb:
Unfortunately, everything sounds very negative and much more pessimistic than how building a house is usually imagined. But in the end, you are absolutely right! No one will have to live in the house except us, and that is how we are being treated.

But it wasn’t meant to be that naive either. First, the soil surveyor has to visit the site, then the civil engineer (who, in my case, is more of a “structural engineer”...), and only then can the house manufacturer start planning the foundation slab. This also has to be coordinated with the utility providers, who have their own civil engineers to connect water, sewage, and electricity to the house. Definitely a fun process ahead!

Although this should not be underestimated or taken lightly, don’t get too stressed and try not to see everything negatively. You are already thinking ahead and taking care of the process. In the end, hopefully, you will be able to say that it was easier than expected.

At least that was my personal experience. I was also frustrated and worried beforehand about many unclear details, especially concerning surveyors and civil engineers. During and after the work, it turned out to be “not so bad,” and everything went better and simpler than anticipated.

You also have a reliable partner in Weberhaus, which creates good conditions for them to think things through a bit and not leave you completely on your own 😉

So, understand the requirements and get quotes yourself. It will work out.

netuser schrieb:

First, the ground is filled up to the level of the slab, compacted, and fine grading is done.
Then your builder or their excavators dig out the 80 cm (31 inches) again and pile it to the side.

Great, so we already agree on that 😀 That’s exactly how I imagined it (see above).

netuser schrieb:

There’s nothing you can do about the city’s fee schedule, of course.
I don’t think a geotechnical report will cost that much more. Likewise, the surveyor shouldn’t be that expensive either...
1. It’s worth comparing prices.
2. When talking to the surveyor, ask if an “official site plan” (or cadastral map) is offered or required! This is often NOT necessary, but offered and much more expensive.
I’m basically in your neighborhood and can recommend a very competent and “cost-effective” surveyor from the region.

Exactly, nothing can be done about that. But at least the client can be informed that such fees exist. Personally, I didn’t know about this since I had never dealt with building before. What’s stopping the architect from pointing that out during the budgeting phase? Nothing really, but instead he just quoted 500 euros, which we obviously relied on. The same applies to the surveyor. I have already requested quotes from surveyors myself (even though I pay my construction manager well for that), and these were somewhat cheaper—but still about 2,000 euros above the planned amount. Most of it depends on the standard ground value and the house size combined with official fee regulations (HOAI and the city’s fee schedule), so it’s not negotiable at all. Therefore, everyone involved should have known that 3,000 euros for surveying a single-family house in a relatively expensive large city in NRW would never be enough. According to the city’s statement, I do need an official site plan, and its price is fixed (independent of the surveyor). Nevertheless, I am happy to receive tips. But writing about this here is probably not allowed, correct?

netuser schrieb:

Just a quick note: When comparing excavation contractor quotes, pay attention to the unit specifications! Some quote by tons, others by cubic meters, or a mix... This can cause misunderstandings or “traps.”
Your stated 22 EUR sounds reasonable/cheap. That’s why I almost expected a “worst case,” but I think less should be charged for backfilling in the mixed calculation.

By the way: How will the rainwater drainage be handled? Sewer system or on-site (+ soakaway)?

I hope you’re right! As I said, as soon as an excavation contractor makes an offer within the budget (or even slightly above now), I will accept immediately. I just want to be sure I won’t end up paying 20,000 or 30,000 euros more in the end.

The drainage will be mostly surface level. For roof water, we have a separate sewer connection that leads to a soakaway pit outside the new development area. That will bring additional connection costs, especially due to the location within a water protection area. For this reason, the sewer must be specially encased.

Hafenstraße schrieb:

You still have to coordinate with the utility providers, who have their own underground construction teams to bring water, wastewater, and electricity to the house. That’s definitely going to be interesting!

Have the utility conduits installed during the initial excavation work. That way, you’ll have much less hassle dealing with the utility companies. Usually, not every provider reopens the trench; the first one installs the conduit system, and the others make use of it.

Hafenstraße schrieb:

A look at the city of Duisburg’s fee schedule is enough to find out: the permit will cost 1,500 Euro. The surveyor also charges according to the fee schedule and wants 5,500 Euro instead of the estimated 3,000 Euro. [...] So far, we have to pay extra for everything, which is completely (really completely!) ruining our excitement, pride, and currently our sleep.

The only solution is to plan precisely in advance and not rely on estimates. That wasn’t done, and now the damage is done. Still, I would recommend reviewing your budget as soon as possible and critically questioning all items. This way, you’ll know exactly how much additional cost to expect and can plan accordingly if needed.

Hafenstraße schrieb:

What is the objection to the architect pointing out that this should be checked as part of the cost estimation? Actually, nothing, but he chose instead to simply name €500 (around $540), which we then undoubtedly relied on. The same applies to the surveyor. I have already requested quotes from other surveyors myself (for which I am actually paying my construction manager quite well), and they were somewhat cheaper. Still about €2000 (around $2160) above the planned budget. Most of this depends on the land value and house size in relation to HOAI and fee regulations, so it is 0% negotiable. Accordingly, everyone involved should have known that €3000 (around $3240) for surveying a single-family house in a relatively expensive large city in NRW would never be enough. By the way, according to the city, I need an official site plan, the price of which is fixed (independent of the surveyor). Nevertheless, I am very grateful for any tips. Writing about this here is probably not allowed, right?

Basically, you are right that people are often not sufficiently advised or informed. Many variables are indeed difficult to assess in advance, but in the examples mentioned, it would actually be possible to point out the circumstances and potential sources of information...

Regarding the "official site plan," I still advise you to check carefully whether this is actually required. I would almost assume not. According to my information, this is only required (?) if there are contaminated sites and the building plot has not yet been formed. Otherwise, it is cheaper without it.

WilderSueden schrieb:

Have the conduit pipes for the utility providers installed during the initial groundworks. This way, you'll avoid a lot of hassle with the providers later on. Usually, not every provider will dig up the trench again; the first one installs the conduit system, and the others use it.

No, as far as I understand, the main distribution board (MSH) is included and provided by Weberhaus. It is installed by them during the foundation or slab construction. You probably won’t have much hassle with the utility providers themselves, apart from scheduling appointments after the house has been delivered and set up.