ᐅ New Single-Family Home Construction Project: Assessment, Feasibility, and Costs
Created on: 18 Jan 2026 15:41
S
Schwalbe12S
Schwalbe1218 Jan 2026 15:41Hello everyone,
My partner and I have purchased a plot of land and would like to build a single-family house with a garage on it. We are currently looking for potential partners for the construction project. We have each had an initial introductory meeting with a general contractor, a construction management company, and an architect. Preliminary floor plan proposals will follow in the coming weeks.
We are posting in this forum to get helpful tips, opinions, and an assessment (feasibility, costs, etc.) for our building project. This forum has already been very helpful regarding basement regulations, slope assessment, and more.
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 650m2 (7000ft2)
Slope: Yes, approximately 2.5 meters (8 feet) incline from south to north, see plan
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: N/A
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see plan
Adjacent development: N/A
Number of parking spaces: 2 or more
Number of floors: 3
Roof type: mono-/shed roof or gable roof 30–45°; or half-hipped/gable/hipped roof 15–30°; flat roof 0–5°
Architectural style: open construction style, single and semi-detached houses
Orientation: garden facing west
Maximum building height/limits: ridge height max. 7m (23 feet)
Further requirements: see plan
Client requirements
Style: modern and linear
Roof type: shed roof or shallow pitched gable roof (30°)
Building type: detached single-family house
Stories: 2 full floors + optional basement
Basement: if practical/necessary: waterproof concrete shell (white tank) with hobby room, underfloor heating, 1 window per room, ceiling height ≥ 2.2m (7.2 feet), power outlets + lighting
Number of occupants, age: 2 persons; both 35+
Space requirement on ground floor and upper floor: approximately 150m2 (1600ft2)
Office: 2 home offices for family use
Finishes: parquet flooring in living and sleeping areas, tiles (preferably 120 x 120mm (5 x 5 inches)) in entrance area and bathrooms, one exposed concrete (plastered) wall in the living room and staircase to upper floor, aluminum windows including electric shutters and insect screens
Overnight guests per year: none or very few
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern design: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes
Number of dining seats: 6–8
Fireplace: desired, possibly for later installation
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage; width at least 6.5m (21 feet), length at least 7m (23 feet) with direct access to the house (pantry)
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons for specific choices:
- Solid construction, monolithic according to building energy regulations
- Lots of glass facing west (field) – beautiful view
- Gallery in entrance area
- Open living kitchen with access to pantry (with access to garage)
- Ground-level/barrier-free access to house, living area, and terrace
- Bedroom facing west with direct access to walk-in closet
- Ceiling height on ground floor ≥ 2.9m (9.5 feet)
- Photovoltaic system with battery + electric vehicle charging station
House design
Planner: currently none
What do you particularly like? Why? N/A
What do you dislike? Why? N/A
Cost estimate from architect/planner: about €600,000 without basement and landscaping (one general contractor, one construction management, one architect after initial meeting)
Personal price limit for house, including finishes: €700,000
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump + underfloor heating
If you have to give up anything, which details/extensions
- can you do without:
fireplace
garage with house access
basement, if practical?
- cannot do without:
living area ground and upper floors ≥ 145m2 (1560ft2)
Why is the design as it is now?
No floor plan available yet. Here is an excerpt from the development plan, cross-section, and two initial ideas for the placement of the house and garage.
My partner and I have purchased a plot of land and would like to build a single-family house with a garage on it. We are currently looking for potential partners for the construction project. We have each had an initial introductory meeting with a general contractor, a construction management company, and an architect. Preliminary floor plan proposals will follow in the coming weeks.
We are posting in this forum to get helpful tips, opinions, and an assessment (feasibility, costs, etc.) for our building project. This forum has already been very helpful regarding basement regulations, slope assessment, and more.
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 650m2 (7000ft2)
Slope: Yes, approximately 2.5 meters (8 feet) incline from south to north, see plan
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: N/A
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see plan
Adjacent development: N/A
Number of parking spaces: 2 or more
Number of floors: 3
Roof type: mono-/shed roof or gable roof 30–45°; or half-hipped/gable/hipped roof 15–30°; flat roof 0–5°
Architectural style: open construction style, single and semi-detached houses
Orientation: garden facing west
Maximum building height/limits: ridge height max. 7m (23 feet)
Further requirements: see plan
Client requirements
Style: modern and linear
Roof type: shed roof or shallow pitched gable roof (30°)
Building type: detached single-family house
Stories: 2 full floors + optional basement
Basement: if practical/necessary: waterproof concrete shell (white tank) with hobby room, underfloor heating, 1 window per room, ceiling height ≥ 2.2m (7.2 feet), power outlets + lighting
Number of occupants, age: 2 persons; both 35+
Space requirement on ground floor and upper floor: approximately 150m2 (1600ft2)
Office: 2 home offices for family use
Finishes: parquet flooring in living and sleeping areas, tiles (preferably 120 x 120mm (5 x 5 inches)) in entrance area and bathrooms, one exposed concrete (plastered) wall in the living room and staircase to upper floor, aluminum windows including electric shutters and insect screens
Overnight guests per year: none or very few
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern design: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes
Number of dining seats: 6–8
Fireplace: desired, possibly for later installation
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage; width at least 6.5m (21 feet), length at least 7m (23 feet) with direct access to the house (pantry)
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons for specific choices:
- Solid construction, monolithic according to building energy regulations
- Lots of glass facing west (field) – beautiful view
- Gallery in entrance area
- Open living kitchen with access to pantry (with access to garage)
- Ground-level/barrier-free access to house, living area, and terrace
- Bedroom facing west with direct access to walk-in closet
- Ceiling height on ground floor ≥ 2.9m (9.5 feet)
- Photovoltaic system with battery + electric vehicle charging station
House design
Planner: currently none
What do you particularly like? Why? N/A
What do you dislike? Why? N/A
Cost estimate from architect/planner: about €600,000 without basement and landscaping (one general contractor, one construction management, one architect after initial meeting)
Personal price limit for house, including finishes: €700,000
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump + underfloor heating
If you have to give up anything, which details/extensions
- can you do without:
fireplace
garage with house access
basement, if practical?
- cannot do without:
living area ground and upper floors ≥ 145m2 (1560ft2)
Why is the design as it is now?
No floor plan available yet. Here is an excerpt from the development plan, cross-section, and two initial ideas for the placement of the house and garage.
Papierturm18 Jan 2026 17:34Brief feasibility / assessment:
The “basement rule” basically means that you pay for the basement anyway, whether you build with a slab-on-grade or with a basement, which makes having a basement seem logical.
However, since a basement always involves costs (which are often underestimated), the second conclusion is: if you build with a basement, it should be integrated into the living concept to avoid costs spiraling out of control.
Regarding the actual question here: If the ground floor and upper floor are built with 150m² (1,615 sq ft), plus an (mostly finished) basement of about 75m² (807 sq ft), the total financing volume will most likely be significantly exceeded. (225m² (2,422 sq ft) multiplied by 3,000€/m² (this corresponds roughly to $3,600/ft²) turnkey already amounts to 675,000€, and that does not include excavation costs, garage, landscaping, or other expensive elements needed in the house. Also, a finished basement usually costs more per square meter than above-ground space, so the rough estimate is already too low from the start.)
I do believe you can get a nice house on the lot for around 700,000€. However, for an effectively three-story house of this size, my concern is that the budget will be too tight. This likely means either “building smaller and moving some rooms to the basement” or “fully integrating the basement into the plan and building only the basement plus ground floor.”
The “basement rule” basically means that you pay for the basement anyway, whether you build with a slab-on-grade or with a basement, which makes having a basement seem logical.
However, since a basement always involves costs (which are often underestimated), the second conclusion is: if you build with a basement, it should be integrated into the living concept to avoid costs spiraling out of control.
Regarding the actual question here: If the ground floor and upper floor are built with 150m² (1,615 sq ft), plus an (mostly finished) basement of about 75m² (807 sq ft), the total financing volume will most likely be significantly exceeded. (225m² (2,422 sq ft) multiplied by 3,000€/m² (this corresponds roughly to $3,600/ft²) turnkey already amounts to 675,000€, and that does not include excavation costs, garage, landscaping, or other expensive elements needed in the house. Also, a finished basement usually costs more per square meter than above-ground space, so the rough estimate is already too low from the start.)
I do believe you can get a nice house on the lot for around 700,000€. However, for an effectively three-story house of this size, my concern is that the budget will be too tight. This likely means either “building smaller and moving some rooms to the basement” or “fully integrating the basement into the plan and building only the basement plus ground floor.”
I would especially consider placing the garage “below” here, provided access from the lower street level is possible, allowing the house to overlook it from above.
Not exactly. The rule says: if the plot “requires” a basement, you end up paying for it regardless—whether as an underground floor or through unsuitable measures attempting to avoid it!
So you probably understood the rule but phrased it in a misleading way.
Here, I see the rule favoring “per underground level,” and yes, of course, it should be used as living space. At the house size you want, I don’t see a second full story (unless it arises mathematically from a relatively high knee wall—but for that I recommend my external post about the knee wall as a window separator), so no villa substitute.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Papierturm schrieb:
The “basement rule” basically states that you pay for the basement anyway, whether you build on a slab or with a basement, which makes having a basement likely.
Not exactly. The rule says: if the plot “requires” a basement, you end up paying for it regardless—whether as an underground floor or through unsuitable measures attempting to avoid it!
So you probably understood the rule but phrased it in a misleading way.
Here, I see the rule favoring “per underground level,” and yes, of course, it should be used as living space. At the house size you want, I don’t see a second full story (unless it arises mathematically from a relatively high knee wall—but for that I recommend my external post about the knee wall as a window separator), so no villa substitute.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
M
MachsSelbst19 Jan 2026 08:01Here the question arises again whether the costs for the outdoor areas have been greatly underestimated, as they will definitely be expensive with this slope and must also be completed promptly due to the west-facing slope (main windward side)...
The slope is over 10%, with the plot starting at street level in the southeast at 182.33 meters (599 feet) and rising to 186 meters (610 feet) at the northwest corner, which is almost a 4-meter (13-foot) height difference over 30 meters (98 feet). On the west and south sides, there are also no neighbors with whom the costs for retaining structures like L-shaped blocks, retaining walls, or similar could be shared.
And where is the nice view of the field supposed to come from if the living room is located in the basement or on a slab foundation about 2.5 meters (8 feet) below the start of the field?
That will be a nice view of a terraced garden, but definitely not of the field. Moreover, zoning plans or building permits usually regulate how high the finished floor level can be above street level, and so on.
The slope is over 10%, with the plot starting at street level in the southeast at 182.33 meters (599 feet) and rising to 186 meters (610 feet) at the northwest corner, which is almost a 4-meter (13-foot) height difference over 30 meters (98 feet). On the west and south sides, there are also no neighbors with whom the costs for retaining structures like L-shaped blocks, retaining walls, or similar could be shared.
And where is the nice view of the field supposed to come from if the living room is located in the basement or on a slab foundation about 2.5 meters (8 feet) below the start of the field?
That will be a nice view of a terraced garden, but definitely not of the field. Moreover, zoning plans or building permits usually regulate how high the finished floor level can be above street level, and so on.
S
Schwalbe1220 Jan 2026 07:41Thank you for your responses.
Agreed, with 225m2 (2,421 sq ft) the maximum budget of 700,000 euros will probably be significantly exceeded. Ultimately, we would like to have at least 200m2 (2,153 sq ft), but we are not sure if that will reduce the price considerably. At the moment, we would prefer to have two floors above ground and hope that we can afford it somehow. We chose this plot because of the view of the greenery. Therefore, we would like all the main living spaces to be above ground with a view of the fields.
We currently find it difficult to consider a bungalow with a basement / lower ground floor.
The plot rises towards the north and west and currently allows a view over the field behind it, since the terrain continues to rise beyond the property boundary. We had hoped that the slope in the western part could be left as is, while some fill could be added in the southeastern area. This would preserve the original terrain profile and potentially require L-shaped retaining walls of 10 to 15 meters (33 to 49 feet) along the street, probably behind the garage.
Regarding the reference height, the development plan states:
“Reference height (§ 9 para. 3 Building Code and § 18 para. 1 Land Use Ordinance)
The reference heights for the set building heights are based on the adjacent street levels (heights of public traffic areas). If a property borders several public traffic areas, the traffic area designated in the plan is decisive. The street heights are shown in meters above sea level on the plan and may need to be interpolated as necessary. The building midpoint is decisive.”
Does this mean that a potential house located in the north, depending on its width, may have a ground floor level of approximately 184 meters (604 feet)? 184 meters corresponds roughly to the street level in this area.
We now see the slope and the outdoor area landscaping as a real challenge…
The driveway to the garage from the southern side is also a useful hint. We need to check that. We didn’t quite understand the note about the knee wall (kniestock); perhaps we did not find the correct external post.
Thank you very much, we will definitely take these insights into the next meeting with the architect!
Agreed, with 225m2 (2,421 sq ft) the maximum budget of 700,000 euros will probably be significantly exceeded. Ultimately, we would like to have at least 200m2 (2,153 sq ft), but we are not sure if that will reduce the price considerably. At the moment, we would prefer to have two floors above ground and hope that we can afford it somehow. We chose this plot because of the view of the greenery. Therefore, we would like all the main living spaces to be above ground with a view of the fields.
We currently find it difficult to consider a bungalow with a basement / lower ground floor.
The plot rises towards the north and west and currently allows a view over the field behind it, since the terrain continues to rise beyond the property boundary. We had hoped that the slope in the western part could be left as is, while some fill could be added in the southeastern area. This would preserve the original terrain profile and potentially require L-shaped retaining walls of 10 to 15 meters (33 to 49 feet) along the street, probably behind the garage.
Regarding the reference height, the development plan states:
“Reference height (§ 9 para. 3 Building Code and § 18 para. 1 Land Use Ordinance)
The reference heights for the set building heights are based on the adjacent street levels (heights of public traffic areas). If a property borders several public traffic areas, the traffic area designated in the plan is decisive. The street heights are shown in meters above sea level on the plan and may need to be interpolated as necessary. The building midpoint is decisive.”
Does this mean that a potential house located in the north, depending on its width, may have a ground floor level of approximately 184 meters (604 feet)? 184 meters corresponds roughly to the street level in this area.
We now see the slope and the outdoor area landscaping as a real challenge…
The driveway to the garage from the southern side is also a useful hint. We need to check that. We didn’t quite understand the note about the knee wall (kniestock); perhaps we did not find the correct external post.
Thank you very much, we will definitely take these insights into the next meeting with the architect!
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