ᐅ $250,000 – Implementation of the building plan including all additional costs?
Created on: 15 Sep 2013 00:29
C
Campino
Hello Housebuilding Forum,
I hope I’m not starting this thread too early and that I’ll be taken somewhat seriously, even though I don’t have much experience with housebuilding yet.
My partner and I are planning to move out of a rental soon and get our own home. Until now, the plan was mainly to buy a relatively new house. However, I didn’t want to completely rule out the possibility of building a new one and wanted to at least get some information.
So today we visited a show home and had a very pleasant conversation with an employee of a fairly well-known prefab house manufacturer (I’m not sure if I’m allowed or should post the name here).
We shared what we were looking for in an existing house, which also reflected our basic requirements for a prefab home. I also mentioned to the employee that on property websites like immowelt or my-next-home, new construction projects with land are often offered, since we don’t have a plot ourselves.
The employee took notes on our wishes.
Between 130 and 150 sqm (1,400 and 1,615 sq ft)
Plot between 400 and 600 sqm (4,300 and 6,450 sq ft)
Basement
Underfloor heating
Painter/turnkey delivery
We didn’t express any specific wishes regarding balconies, bay windows, or similar features; it was mainly an initial conversation for information. We don’t want a townhouse but rather a fairly “normal” one-and-a-half-story house with a pitched roof.
Our total budget was stated as 250,000 euros (about $270,000). The employee said that “you can do something with that” regarding what we imagined and that he could provide a non-binding offer.
After reading around a bit here, though: is this even realistic? Can we seriously plan to get a house with a plot in this size range within that budget?
According to the employee, all costs would be covered in this offer, including property taxes, additional construction costs, and site costs.
I would really appreciate your opinions...
Best regards
I hope I’m not starting this thread too early and that I’ll be taken somewhat seriously, even though I don’t have much experience with housebuilding yet.
My partner and I are planning to move out of a rental soon and get our own home. Until now, the plan was mainly to buy a relatively new house. However, I didn’t want to completely rule out the possibility of building a new one and wanted to at least get some information.
So today we visited a show home and had a very pleasant conversation with an employee of a fairly well-known prefab house manufacturer (I’m not sure if I’m allowed or should post the name here).
We shared what we were looking for in an existing house, which also reflected our basic requirements for a prefab home. I also mentioned to the employee that on property websites like immowelt or my-next-home, new construction projects with land are often offered, since we don’t have a plot ourselves.
The employee took notes on our wishes.
Between 130 and 150 sqm (1,400 and 1,615 sq ft)
Plot between 400 and 600 sqm (4,300 and 6,450 sq ft)
Basement
Underfloor heating
Painter/turnkey delivery
We didn’t express any specific wishes regarding balconies, bay windows, or similar features; it was mainly an initial conversation for information. We don’t want a townhouse but rather a fairly “normal” one-and-a-half-story house with a pitched roof.
Our total budget was stated as 250,000 euros (about $270,000). The employee said that “you can do something with that” regarding what we imagined and that he could provide a non-binding offer.
After reading around a bit here, though: is this even realistic? Can we seriously plan to get a house with a plot in this size range within that budget?
According to the employee, all costs would be covered in this offer, including property taxes, additional construction costs, and site costs.
I would really appreciate your opinions...
Best regards
I recently had a phone call with the local supplier.
It was a very friendly conversation. However, there was no appointment arranged because the supplier only schedules meetings once a plot of land is at least tentatively identified, or when there are photos and a floor plan available. Only then does it make sense to talk about a house, and only then can realistic ancillary construction costs be estimated. I actually thought this was very reasonable and a difference compared to all the others I had spoken with before.
Still, this builder also said that the price could be realistic, depending on the cost of the land. The advantage with this company is that many items are included, such as a certain share of excavation, complete scaffolding, construction electricity, construction water, portable toilets, road closures, and so on, which with the larger manufacturers are all the responsibility of the homebuyer.
We are currently looking for a plot of land. If we find one we are 100 percent satisfied with, we will have it reserved and then arrange a personal meeting again.
The builder has built an excellent reputation in Saarland over 35 years and operates exclusively there (and in the border area of Luxembourg).
It was a very friendly conversation. However, there was no appointment arranged because the supplier only schedules meetings once a plot of land is at least tentatively identified, or when there are photos and a floor plan available. Only then does it make sense to talk about a house, and only then can realistic ancillary construction costs be estimated. I actually thought this was very reasonable and a difference compared to all the others I had spoken with before.
Still, this builder also said that the price could be realistic, depending on the cost of the land. The advantage with this company is that many items are included, such as a certain share of excavation, complete scaffolding, construction electricity, construction water, portable toilets, road closures, and so on, which with the larger manufacturers are all the responsibility of the homebuyer.
We are currently looking for a plot of land. If we find one we are 100 percent satisfied with, we will have it reserved and then arrange a personal meeting again.
The builder has built an excellent reputation in Saarland over 35 years and operates exclusively there (and in the border area of Luxembourg).
I
Irgendwoabaier5 Oct 2013 07:00Well, is that "including" really reasonable? There will be costs involved, of course, and the builder will naturally pass these costs on to the customer. Where exactly they hide those costs is their business, but it makes comparing offers more difficult.
Another issue is discussing the possibilities of building a house itself. On the one hand, that's correct – the plot sets the framework for construction through location, topography, zoning plan, building envelope, etc. With the number and types of plots available on the market, many of these discussions will be pointless because the deal won't go through in the end.
On the other hand, the real questions are: How much will my dream house cost? How much land can I still afford? How much will the bank be willing to finance? And: What exactly is included in the standard design from the provider who says, "It doesn’t matter, the main thing is a low price"? Are there numerous items that a layperson would consider “obviously included, otherwise the house isn’t complete” – like roller shutters, entrance steps/stairs, and so on?
Without talking to a potential builder, these questions can’t be answered at all...
Regards,
I.
Another issue is discussing the possibilities of building a house itself. On the one hand, that's correct – the plot sets the framework for construction through location, topography, zoning plan, building envelope, etc. With the number and types of plots available on the market, many of these discussions will be pointless because the deal won't go through in the end.
On the other hand, the real questions are: How much will my dream house cost? How much land can I still afford? How much will the bank be willing to finance? And: What exactly is included in the standard design from the provider who says, "It doesn’t matter, the main thing is a low price"? Are there numerous items that a layperson would consider “obviously included, otherwise the house isn’t complete” – like roller shutters, entrance steps/stairs, and so on?
Without talking to a potential builder, these questions can’t be answered at all...
Regards,
I.
I would like to close this thread and take the opportunity to thank everyone who gave me advice here.
In the end, we decided not to build and have now found a nice single-family house that meets 99% of our expectations.
It has 143 sqm (1,539 sq ft), no sloped ceilings, two full floors, 5 rooms (living/dining room, guest toilet, kitchen, two children’s rooms, master bedroom with walk-in closet, large bathroom), a basement, carport, and a 430 sqm (4,630 sq ft) garden. The house was built in 2003, and the heating is district heating.
The only downside is that it is attached on one side, but with so many fulfilled wishes, that no longer matters. Above all, it fits our budget.
Thanks again to everyone, and I will probably be more active soon in the “Renovation and Living Ideas” section when the move takes place in February!
In the end, we decided not to build and have now found a nice single-family house that meets 99% of our expectations.
It has 143 sqm (1,539 sq ft), no sloped ceilings, two full floors, 5 rooms (living/dining room, guest toilet, kitchen, two children’s rooms, master bedroom with walk-in closet, large bathroom), a basement, carport, and a 430 sqm (4,630 sq ft) garden. The house was built in 2003, and the heating is district heating.
The only downside is that it is attached on one side, but with so many fulfilled wishes, that no longer matters. Above all, it fits our budget.
Thanks again to everyone, and I will probably be more active soon in the “Renovation and Living Ideas” section when the move takes place in February!
P
perlenmann26 Nov 2013 12:41I think it’s great that you’re giving feedback!
Enjoy your new house, which is 99% suited to your needs!
Enjoy your new house, which is 99% suited to your needs!