Dear Homebuilding Community,
I have already read some exciting discussions here. However, I can’t help but share our building project with you to get your opinions. Perhaps our situation might also help other readers.
We already have a beautiful plot of land in southern Schleswig-Holstein (near Hamburg), where we want to build a spacious single-family home for a family of four, possibly five, with the option for Grandma to move in later. And by spacious, I really mean spacious: We approached the architect with a concept of about 300 m² (3,229 sq ft) of living space plus a basement and brought our dream home to paper. Including terraces, the total area is now an impressive 360 m² (3,875 sq ft). It’s large, and we know that. We’re currently in the planning approval phase.
First, some details about the house and property:
- 2,700 m² (29,063 sq ft) plot
- 360 m² (3,875 sq ft) living space plus basement
- Ground source heat pump with probes
- Photovoltaic system ~10 kWp
- Battery storage
- Central ventilation system
- Underfloor heating
- KNX smart home system for lighting, heating, ventilation, security
- Detached double garage
- Sauna house with whirlpool in the garden
- Meets KfW55 energy standard
- Watertight concrete shell (“white bathtub”)
- Built-in wardrobes
Everything falls into the category of high-end equipment.
Now our dilemma:
We started with a planning budget for cost groups 300 + 400 (shell + interior work and technical equipment) of €1.25 million (approximately $1.35 million; €3,500/m² or about $325/sq ft). This was the budget we planned with. Now the architect suddenly says the planned costs have almost doubled to about €2.1 million (approximately $2.27 million). The reason given: the square meters increased (the architect included some rooms in the basement as living space), and our wishes have continuously evolved along the way (dormers, double garage, outdoor kitchen, casemates, etc.). We’ve received a cost breakdown, but I have no way to evaluate whether the painter’s costs overall, or the price for a window or door, are reasonable.
Well – that’s clearly way over our budget, and we’re now cutting costs significantly. We’ve already removed the casemates, blinds, many built-in wardrobes, and still aren’t close to the budget we originally set. Apparently, we’ll have to downgrade from “high-end” to “standard” finishes and possibly shrink some rooms considerably.
The electrical planning has been the biggest surprise: After an initial quotation with very crazy prices, I now have a new “basis for discussion” on electrical costs. For electrical work (materials + installation), €220,000 (around $238,000) has been estimated so far—still excluding the photovoltaic system, battery storage, server, blind motors, KNX programming! Attached is a small excerpt from the planned costs. I can’t imagine these costs being realistic.
I know the square meters are extreme, and large areas like the entrance hall are not efficiently used. However, we started from the assumption that with a budget of about €1.5 million (planning + construction) we could build the absolute dream house.
Are we that far off? Is it not possible to realize such a project with this budget?
Thank you very much for your opinions and assessments! I’m also curious about your suggestions on what you would do or where you would cut costs.
Best regards!
I have already read some exciting discussions here. However, I can’t help but share our building project with you to get your opinions. Perhaps our situation might also help other readers.
We already have a beautiful plot of land in southern Schleswig-Holstein (near Hamburg), where we want to build a spacious single-family home for a family of four, possibly five, with the option for Grandma to move in later. And by spacious, I really mean spacious: We approached the architect with a concept of about 300 m² (3,229 sq ft) of living space plus a basement and brought our dream home to paper. Including terraces, the total area is now an impressive 360 m² (3,875 sq ft). It’s large, and we know that. We’re currently in the planning approval phase.
First, some details about the house and property:
- 2,700 m² (29,063 sq ft) plot
- 360 m² (3,875 sq ft) living space plus basement
- Ground source heat pump with probes
- Photovoltaic system ~10 kWp
- Battery storage
- Central ventilation system
- Underfloor heating
- KNX smart home system for lighting, heating, ventilation, security
- Detached double garage
- Sauna house with whirlpool in the garden
- Meets KfW55 energy standard
- Watertight concrete shell (“white bathtub”)
- Built-in wardrobes
Everything falls into the category of high-end equipment.
Now our dilemma:
We started with a planning budget for cost groups 300 + 400 (shell + interior work and technical equipment) of €1.25 million (approximately $1.35 million; €3,500/m² or about $325/sq ft). This was the budget we planned with. Now the architect suddenly says the planned costs have almost doubled to about €2.1 million (approximately $2.27 million). The reason given: the square meters increased (the architect included some rooms in the basement as living space), and our wishes have continuously evolved along the way (dormers, double garage, outdoor kitchen, casemates, etc.). We’ve received a cost breakdown, but I have no way to evaluate whether the painter’s costs overall, or the price for a window or door, are reasonable.
Well – that’s clearly way over our budget, and we’re now cutting costs significantly. We’ve already removed the casemates, blinds, many built-in wardrobes, and still aren’t close to the budget we originally set. Apparently, we’ll have to downgrade from “high-end” to “standard” finishes and possibly shrink some rooms considerably.
The electrical planning has been the biggest surprise: After an initial quotation with very crazy prices, I now have a new “basis for discussion” on electrical costs. For electrical work (materials + installation), €220,000 (around $238,000) has been estimated so far—still excluding the photovoltaic system, battery storage, server, blind motors, KNX programming! Attached is a small excerpt from the planned costs. I can’t imagine these costs being realistic.
I know the square meters are extreme, and large areas like the entrance hall are not efficiently used. However, we started from the assumption that with a budget of about €1.5 million (planning + construction) we could build the absolute dream house.
Are we that far off? Is it not possible to realize such a project with this budget?
Thank you very much for your opinions and assessments! I’m also curious about your suggestions on what you would do or where you would cut costs.
Best regards!
Wow,
Seriously? You have more experience at this level, so I take your assessment seriously. But that’s €8,000–8,500 per square meter? Then the walls must be covered in gold leaf!??
Best regards,
Andreas
rick2018 schrieb:
With today’s construction costs and upscale finishes, even the estimated 2.5 million isn’t enough.
Seriously? You have more experience at this level, so I take your assessment seriously. But that’s €8,000–8,500 per square meter? Then the walls must be covered in gold leaf!??
Best regards,
Andreas
S
SaniererNRW12330 Aug 2022 14:54andimann schrieb:
Really? You have more experience at this level, so I take your assessment seriously. But that’s $8,000 to $8,500 per square meter? Well, just calculate the €2.1 million on 360 sqm (square meters) above ground = €5,800/sqm.
Or including the finished basement on a total of 540 sqm = €3,900/sqm.
So your estimate of 300–400 (thousand) costs per sqm is definitely within range. I even see that sometimes for very high-end residential buildings including underground garage/basement.
B
Bertram10030 Aug 2022 15:41andimann schrieb:
whether this is still appropriate nowadays is something everyone has to decide for themselves...Unfortunately, yes, everyone has to decide for themselves. Sometimes it would be wiser if wise people made the decisions instead. But the question of whether it is appropriate in today’s world doesn’t even arise. It is absolutely inappropriate. But since this is about a family, who cares about the children’s future?Besides, the house is too big to be properly filled with life. Regardless of saving money or having it, quality of living and a comfortable atmosphere, to me, come from nice, intelligent materials and solutions, and a homeowner family with vision.
S
SaniererNRW12330 Aug 2022 15:46Bertram100 schrieb:
The house is also too big to fill properly with life. You can definitely fill it with life. But honestly, it still lacks a separate area for the housekeeper and/or the au pair (male or female). That is part of a house like this. The gardener probably comes regularly, but the household work is usually done by someone employed.