ᐅ What features did you include in your house, and what did you decide to leave out?
Created on: 30 Jan 2015 14:18
W
willWohnen
Hello,
When planning and building a house, you focus on the essentials and the budget. Some wishes get dropped along the way. But certain small luxuries or nice features are important to you, even if they are not strictly necessary, and you end up including them anyway.
For us, a heated conservatory was an unattainable dream. However, we treated ourselves to tiled, walk-in showers, even though they take up more space.
I would love to hear what you have given up and what you managed to include.
Best regards
When planning and building a house, you focus on the essentials and the budget. Some wishes get dropped along the way. But certain small luxuries or nice features are important to you, even if they are not strictly necessary, and you end up including them anyway.
For us, a heated conservatory was an unattainable dream. However, we treated ourselves to tiled, walk-in showers, even though they take up more space.
I would love to hear what you have given up and what you managed to include.
Best regards
@Bauexperte
You have your opinion, and I respect that, but in my immediate area there are several houses built by different reputable and not cheap general contractors where quite a few things went wrong. For example, the construction sites were inactive for weeks without any clear reasons, and buyers were just being given excuses over the phone. Sometimes defects were not fixed, and in one case the matter went to court, resulting in the contract being terminated and the homeowners ultimately finishing the house themselves.
As I said, none of this involved the so-called "low-cost providers" you keep referring to.
And I don’t think companies work differently in the rest of the country compared to here, especially since many operate nationwide.
@willWohnen
I think you’re referring to me regarding the motorized lock... it’s a general contractor security lock with A-opener, meaning it can be opened electronically, whether by smartphone, code, or other means—it’s up to the homeowner, although this requires careful consideration.
One advantage of this lock is that it locks itself as soon as the door closes, so from an insurance perspective, the door is secured without needing to turn the key.
@all
A few minor things I forgot to mention that we installed or had installed:
- Air conditioning in the bedrooms
- WK2 security class windows
- Front door with steel reinforcement
You have your opinion, and I respect that, but in my immediate area there are several houses built by different reputable and not cheap general contractors where quite a few things went wrong. For example, the construction sites were inactive for weeks without any clear reasons, and buyers were just being given excuses over the phone. Sometimes defects were not fixed, and in one case the matter went to court, resulting in the contract being terminated and the homeowners ultimately finishing the house themselves.
As I said, none of this involved the so-called "low-cost providers" you keep referring to.
And I don’t think companies work differently in the rest of the country compared to here, especially since many operate nationwide.
@willWohnen
I think you’re referring to me regarding the motorized lock... it’s a general contractor security lock with A-opener, meaning it can be opened electronically, whether by smartphone, code, or other means—it’s up to the homeowner, although this requires careful consideration.
One advantage of this lock is that it locks itself as soon as the door closes, so from an insurance perspective, the door is secured without needing to turn the key.
@all
A few minor things I forgot to mention that we installed or had installed:
- Air conditioning in the bedrooms
- WK2 security class windows
- Front door with steel reinforcement
W
willWohnen16 Feb 2015 13:56Sorry @Mycraft, I must have mixed up the nicknames. Thanks for the explanation. I have to admit, I’m not familiar with our window fittings – they have these mushroom-shaped locks, which someone recommended to us. Maybe the electric roller shutters also provide some burglary protection, although half the people disagree when I say that.
Anyway, I think it’s good that you’ve put some thought into security. Or do you happen to live in a particularly high-risk area?
Anyway, I think it’s good that you’ve put some thought into security. Or do you happen to live in a particularly high-risk area?
Not really, except that it is the capital city and ranks third nationwide in the statistics... we just wanted a bit more security than usual... but not a fortress with a moat and drawbridge either.
The professionals will get in anyway, but at least this keeps casual intruders away.
Roller shutters don’t provide burglary protection without additional measures, that’s clear, but they still deter opportunistic thieves… because overcoming them takes extra time and makes more noise.
Besides, they’re very effective for shading… and in summer, they help control the heat better.
The professionals will get in anyway, but at least this keeps casual intruders away.
Roller shutters don’t provide burglary protection without additional measures, that’s clear, but they still deter opportunistic thieves… because overcoming them takes extra time and makes more noise.
Besides, they’re very effective for shading… and in summer, they help control the heat better.
Mycraft schrieb:
I’m also aware that there are many "good" general contractors out there... we would gladly build with ours again anytime... but most companies operate differently... at least that’s the impression I get when reading the builders’ diaries and such... but I’m digressing...
Well – in general, it has to be said that those who decide to share their experiences online are usually the ones who had bad experiences. Positive experiences are just taken for granted. This seems to be a – how should I put it – German mentality. Criticize the negative, but don’t praise the positive. It’s also a strange attitude that some people can’t handle praise well (for example: “You did a good job.” → “Well – it wasn’t that difficult.” “Yes, but …” [praise again dismissed]).
I admit: I want to share my very positive experiences with our general contractor here, but so far I haven’t found the time to do so.
B
Bauexperte16 Feb 2015 14:48Hello,
First of all, I’m glad for you that you obviously made a good choice!
I definitely don’t want to deny that stories like yours are part of the homebuilding topic (can be); I’m not living on the moon. I just have an issue with broad generalizations which, on closer inspection, often turn out differently. So many people are involved in homebuilding — from the first consultation to handing over the keys — so mistakes are inevitable, because it’s people, not robots, who take on this adventure.
How are you or I supposed to know, for example, why construction stood still for weeks, without hearing and considering both sides’ perspectives? I have experienced cases where windows were ordered incorrectly, but not because the builder made the mistake; rather, the homeowners decided after approval to enhance their single-family house with decorative elements instead of floor-to-ceiling windows with French balconies. They communicated to the outside world that the builder was to blame for the delay. Also, when several building projects of one builder are carried out nearby, sometimes a ringleader causes disruption among the others... and so on.
Here, for example, a report has been published that attributes all the trouble to the builder. Since I know the case personally, I am well aware that neither the homeowner nor the builder acted flawlessly; both share responsibility for the current situation. But — again, externally, it’s always the “bad” builder. Admitting mistakes is still harder than putting the blame on someone else. And anyway, who really wants to check... When building a house, people tend to believe the homeowner more than the general contractor / builder / architect or even the salesperson. It’s a mess... all of them robbers, if not outright criminals anyway...
I also know that, just like there are lemons in the car industry, there are building projects from the start that are doomed; those end up in court. No question. But — again — these cases do not represent the average of building projects submitted in Germany. Many more projects run quietly and as planned — often with builders or contractors whose names no one here probably has heard of — than it seems in the public eye. By the way, you yourself are a good example of things going well and will hopefully, like the Doc, share your smooth building process publicly.
And even if no one here likes to hear it: in the vast majority of cases, the homeowners themselves are responsible for slow progress or the appearance of “alleged” defects after handover. Either because they think they know better and hire a cheap provider only to face reality later. Or — increasingly, and something I watch with great concern — they trust the internet and its self-proclaimed prophets more than the usual necessities of homebuilding.
What do you think is the reason I keep bringing up an independent expert so insistently? Because I enjoy boring users here or looking for a handout? Not at all! Nowadays, an independent expert’s role is more that of a mediator than merely applying learned knowledge. Well... of course, the expert should not come from an association that I hold dear. If problems arise during the building process, the expert acts as a buffer between homeowner and provider and will clarify many issues upfront, keep them on a factual level, and resolve them to the satisfaction of both sides.
I think we can agree that mistakes are allowed; how they are handled is what really counts.
Best regards, Bauexperte
First of all, I’m glad for you that you obviously made a good choice!
Mycraft schrieb:
@Bauexperte
.... but I know several houses in the immediate area that were built by different well-known and not cheap general contractors, where quite a few things went wrong — for example, the construction sites were inactive for weeks without any obvious reasons and the buyers were just kept waiting on the phone... sometimes defects were not fixed, and in one case the matter went to court and led to the contract being terminated, with the homeowners finally completing the house themselves...
I definitely don’t want to deny that stories like yours are part of the homebuilding topic (can be); I’m not living on the moon. I just have an issue with broad generalizations which, on closer inspection, often turn out differently. So many people are involved in homebuilding — from the first consultation to handing over the keys — so mistakes are inevitable, because it’s people, not robots, who take on this adventure.
How are you or I supposed to know, for example, why construction stood still for weeks, without hearing and considering both sides’ perspectives? I have experienced cases where windows were ordered incorrectly, but not because the builder made the mistake; rather, the homeowners decided after approval to enhance their single-family house with decorative elements instead of floor-to-ceiling windows with French balconies. They communicated to the outside world that the builder was to blame for the delay. Also, when several building projects of one builder are carried out nearby, sometimes a ringleader causes disruption among the others... and so on.
Here, for example, a report has been published that attributes all the trouble to the builder. Since I know the case personally, I am well aware that neither the homeowner nor the builder acted flawlessly; both share responsibility for the current situation. But — again, externally, it’s always the “bad” builder. Admitting mistakes is still harder than putting the blame on someone else. And anyway, who really wants to check... When building a house, people tend to believe the homeowner more than the general contractor / builder / architect or even the salesperson. It’s a mess... all of them robbers, if not outright criminals anyway...
I also know that, just like there are lemons in the car industry, there are building projects from the start that are doomed; those end up in court. No question. But — again — these cases do not represent the average of building projects submitted in Germany. Many more projects run quietly and as planned — often with builders or contractors whose names no one here probably has heard of — than it seems in the public eye. By the way, you yourself are a good example of things going well and will hopefully, like the Doc, share your smooth building process publicly.
And even if no one here likes to hear it: in the vast majority of cases, the homeowners themselves are responsible for slow progress or the appearance of “alleged” defects after handover. Either because they think they know better and hire a cheap provider only to face reality later. Or — increasingly, and something I watch with great concern — they trust the internet and its self-proclaimed prophets more than the usual necessities of homebuilding.
What do you think is the reason I keep bringing up an independent expert so insistently? Because I enjoy boring users here or looking for a handout? Not at all! Nowadays, an independent expert’s role is more that of a mediator than merely applying learned knowledge. Well... of course, the expert should not come from an association that I hold dear. If problems arise during the building process, the expert acts as a buffer between homeowner and provider and will clarify many issues upfront, keep them on a factual level, and resolve them to the satisfaction of both sides.
I think we can agree that mistakes are allowed; how they are handled is what really counts.
Best regards, Bauexperte
W
willWohnen16 Feb 2015 18:48@Mycraft I see it the same way as you do: deterring opportunistic burglars, yes, but with professional criminals — I can only hope they find more rewarding targets than our little house. They would probably cause far more damage worth money than they could actually take away from us.
The fact that the motorized shutters can’t be raised very far was at least another convincing argument my husband used to finally persuade me to go along with the motorization he wanted.
The fact that the motorized shutters can’t be raised very far was at least another convincing argument my husband used to finally persuade me to go along with the motorization he wanted.
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