ᐅ Is it possible to build a new house for €900 per square meter?
Created on: 3 Sep 2024 21:04
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Ottowillswisse
Hello everyone,
After my house purchase unfortunately fell through, I happened to start a conversation with someone from a new development in town.
He told me that the average cost for new builds is usually around €3000 per m² (approximately $280 per ft²), which is quite expensive. But he built his 100 m² (1,076 ft²) flat-roof bungalow with an architect for only €900 per m² (around $85 per ft²). How he managed that: wall construction consists of 17.5 cm (7 inches) calcium silicate bricks + 15 cm (6 inches) insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/(mK) + 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) plaster (this is apparently the cheapest possible wall build-up).
Most of the interior work was done by himself, so for example, the kitchen cost €2000 (about $2200) purchased from a DIY store, and the bathrooms were tiled and the fixtures installed by himself. Laminate flooring and tiles were also installed as DIY for a maximum of €15 per m² (about $1.40 per ft²). Interior plaster on ceilings and walls, interior doors, windows, and the front door were also installed by himself.
The design is very simple with small window areas, and the excavated soil was reused in the garden, for example. The house has no photovoltaic or solar system. Hot water is provided by a tankless water heater, and heating is done with an air-to-air heat pump, that is, a split air conditioning system.
What do you think about such a construction cost? It seems somewhat unrealistic to me.
Best regards
After my house purchase unfortunately fell through, I happened to start a conversation with someone from a new development in town.
He told me that the average cost for new builds is usually around €3000 per m² (approximately $280 per ft²), which is quite expensive. But he built his 100 m² (1,076 ft²) flat-roof bungalow with an architect for only €900 per m² (around $85 per ft²). How he managed that: wall construction consists of 17.5 cm (7 inches) calcium silicate bricks + 15 cm (6 inches) insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/(mK) + 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) plaster (this is apparently the cheapest possible wall build-up).
Most of the interior work was done by himself, so for example, the kitchen cost €2000 (about $2200) purchased from a DIY store, and the bathrooms were tiled and the fixtures installed by himself. Laminate flooring and tiles were also installed as DIY for a maximum of €15 per m² (about $1.40 per ft²). Interior plaster on ceilings and walls, interior doors, windows, and the front door were also installed by himself.
The design is very simple with small window areas, and the excavated soil was reused in the garden, for example. The house has no photovoltaic or solar system. Hot water is provided by a tankless water heater, and heating is done with an air-to-air heat pump, that is, a split air conditioning system.
What do you think about such a construction cost? It seems somewhat unrealistic to me.
Best regards
nordanney schrieb:
In North Rhine-Westphalia, there will be a mandatory requirement for photovoltaic systems. You MUST have them installed in new builds starting from 2025.
Perhaps they also have to be included to meet the necessary standards for new constructions, because without photovoltaics, the house wouldn’t meet the requirements. This is just speculation—I’m not sure. However, this speculation is likely accurate. These are typical examples of the category "we demonstrate how little extra cost is needed to comply with political and technical developments": including something now that will be mandatory for the product’s initial approval in the coming calendar year. Often this is because for such required features, it’s not the date of signing the purchase contract that matters, but the date of the building permit or the actual start of construction. So from this perspective, this 'feature' is no longer an option. It will probably be limited to the bare minimum to fulfill the formal requirement. Anyone seriously considering photovoltaics in their concept will request a larger system.
Ottowillswisse schrieb:
So, in your opinion, is it possible to build an architect-designed house with finishing for €1,600–1,800 per m2 (about $150–170 per sq ft) with inexpensive/cheap fittings? Prices can be determined. Yes, in principle, custom design is the best approach even for people with lower expectations than the typical target audience of a house provider. An "architect-designed house" doesn’t have to be just for people who consider themselves better or those with an allegedly unique concept of individuality. All my clients are certainly not privileged newcomers with excessive wealth.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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Ottowillswisse25 Nov 2024 17:1211ant schrieb:
The price can be determined. Basically, custom planning is the most suitable approach even for people with lower expectations than the target group of a home builder. An "architect-designed house" doesn’t have to be only for those who consider themselves superior or who claim a unique sense of individuality. My clients are all ordinary people, not out-of-touch newly wealthy. If that’s the case, before contacting a consultant from a company, I will reach out to an architect here in the region and plan with them how I envision an affordable but solid house, and see in which areas I can contribute with help from friends and family.
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hanghaus202325 Nov 2024 17:16Did your acquaintance build that some time ago? Twenty years ago, it was much cheaper.
Ottowillswisse schrieb:
If that’s the case, before contacting a consultant from a company, I will reach out to an architect in my region and plan with them how I envision an affordable yet solid house, and also see in which areas I can contribute with help from friends and family. No, not a "consultant from a company," I was, as always, referring to an independent consultant (one you pay yourself who is solely committed to your best interests and does not sell you anything beyond their service). I will also have some availability for independent consultations next year, but I have already recommended several suitable colleagues here (and mentioned that an architect—whom I also help to find—can be such an advisor). My consultations are available nationwide (easily done fully online), and I recently listed several colleagues here: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/grundstueck-im-neubaugebiet-reserviert-bauplanung-steht-an.48364/#post-674942 – if the consultant is to be an architect, the best location (if home and building site differ) is that of the building site.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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Ottowillswisse25 Nov 2024 21:0211ant schrieb:
At what price can it be determined. Yes, in principle, custom design is also the most suitable approach for people with lower expectations than the typical target group of a home builder. An "architect-designed house" does not have to be something only for people who consider themselves superior or who claim to have a unique sense of individuality. All my clients are by no means privileged newcomers.I wanted to revisit the question of whether it is possible to build a house for €1,600 to €1,800 per m2 (approximately $170 to $190 per sq ft) including utilities. After doing some further research, I found that an architect-designed house is generally possible at a minimum cost of €2,400 per m2 (about $225 per sq ft). Building a house is quite complicated...
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Ottowillswisse25 Nov 2024 21:12Addition: I am talking about a straightforward house with simple floor plans, laminate flooring instead of hardwood, small window areas, and no shutters.