Hello everyone,
I’ve already thoroughly searched through the forum but unfortunately couldn’t find more information regarding my question. So, I’m posting it here and hope for your answers.
My husband and I are (almost) at the very beginning of our property search. After viewing several existing homes, we’re now leaning towards building a house. A single-family home, about 120 sqm (1,290 sq ft), in a new development area (although the plot still needs to be purchased).
What I’m really curious about is how much time you realistically need to plan for building a house—from the initial idea for the layout to moving in. Background: My husband and I both work (he full-time with multi-day business trips abroad 1-5 times per year, I work 75% in an office job), and we have a toddler (over 1 year old). Possibly number two is on the way. I’m already glad that everyday life runs somewhat smoothly, but I can hardly imagine how we could fit building a house into our routine.
We’d prefer to build with an architect, but I understand that means even more time for planning and managing the process, right? We don’t see ourselves doing much work ourselves—maybe just some flooring or painting, if that.
What experiences do you have and what tips can you share? And what should be absolutely avoided if you don’t want to end up living alone in the house later? 😉
Oh, and grandparents for childcare are not nearby.
I’m looking forward to your answers!
I’ve already thoroughly searched through the forum but unfortunately couldn’t find more information regarding my question. So, I’m posting it here and hope for your answers.
My husband and I are (almost) at the very beginning of our property search. After viewing several existing homes, we’re now leaning towards building a house. A single-family home, about 120 sqm (1,290 sq ft), in a new development area (although the plot still needs to be purchased).
What I’m really curious about is how much time you realistically need to plan for building a house—from the initial idea for the layout to moving in. Background: My husband and I both work (he full-time with multi-day business trips abroad 1-5 times per year, I work 75% in an office job), and we have a toddler (over 1 year old). Possibly number two is on the way. I’m already glad that everyday life runs somewhat smoothly, but I can hardly imagine how we could fit building a house into our routine.
We’d prefer to build with an architect, but I understand that means even more time for planning and managing the process, right? We don’t see ourselves doing much work ourselves—maybe just some flooring or painting, if that.
What experiences do you have and what tips can you share? And what should be absolutely avoided if you don’t want to end up living alone in the house later? 😉
Oh, and grandparents for childcare are not nearby.
I’m looking forward to your answers!
We don’t have any children yet and didn’t long for them during the planning and construction phase. It was quite stressful, but we also did a lot of the planning, coordination, and later execution ourselves. It can definitely be done with far less personal effort. Just take it as it comes and don’t expect too much from yourself; it ALWAYS takes longer than you think. When I think about how much time the roof alone took (insulation, vapor barrier, battens, sheathing, filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling...), and we had a lot of help from my in-laws.
In hindsight, though, it was a lot of fun, we learned a lot, and I lost 10 kilograms (22 pounds) :p
It’s all manageable somehow, the real question is whether it’s worth it to you. I wouldn’t want to miss the experience, and seeing your own trades finished in the end is a bit of a proud moment 😎
In hindsight, though, it was a lot of fun, we learned a lot, and I lost 10 kilograms (22 pounds) :p
It’s all manageable somehow, the real question is whether it’s worth it to you. I wouldn’t want to miss the experience, and seeing your own trades finished in the end is a bit of a proud moment 😎
B
Bauabenteurer1 Dec 2014 07:45ypg schrieb:
What should be avoided during construction stress to prevent a breakup. 🙂Ah, I hadn’t thought about that. It’s more likely that you’ll have to sell... ;-)
Well, what should be avoided? You should bring an experienced site manager on board, stick as close as possible to the budget, and do almost nothing yourself! :-)
I’m good at giving unsolicited advice! :-)
It took us 16 months.
Unfortunately, you can’t generalize like that. Some providers include a concrete slab foundation, others don’t. Some require a lot of owner involvement with things like temporary power, water connections, and local hookups, while others require very little.
Our selection process took one day – we had our 1.5-year-old with a 39°C (102°F) fever with us (it took one hour until the grandparents arrived) – not something I would recommend. When planning the selection day, make sure to arrange hotel accommodation for the childcare providers, etc.
Delivery times from prefab home manufacturers vary between 3 and 12 months.
ypg schrieb:
In your case, a timber frame house would be suitable – the house is selected and planned in detail beforehand, including all electrical outlets and every little detail. It is then manufactured in a factory and assembled on-site within 2 days. The selection of materials and fixtures also takes place in about 2 days in advance. After that, the interior finishing phase follows, which also proceeds according to a predefined schedule. (So you should know what you want beforehand, and then everything will be completed within about six months (ideally) without your presence.)
Unfortunately, you can’t generalize like that. Some providers include a concrete slab foundation, others don’t. Some require a lot of owner involvement with things like temporary power, water connections, and local hookups, while others require very little.
Our selection process took one day – we had our 1.5-year-old with a 39°C (102°F) fever with us (it took one hour until the grandparents arrived) – not something I would recommend. When planning the selection day, make sure to arrange hotel accommodation for the childcare providers, etc.
Delivery times from prefab home manufacturers vary between 3 and 12 months.
Bauabenteurer schrieb:
...and doing almost nothing yourself! 🙂 I see it differently. If you don’t have two left hands and have some time, you can learn a lot and carry out (almost) everything exactly as you want within your budget and skill level, and then be very proud of it. If I imagine that we had outsourced the drywall work as a trade, it would never have turned out the way we wanted and how it stands now, at least not within a reasonable price range. And regarding quality, I have no doubts, as it was confirmed to us multiple times by various professionals for different trades. A craftsman can do it faster, no question, but does he always do it as conscientiously as the person who will eventually live there? Ideally, yes...
Additionally, due to the own work performed, the shell structure can dry out better because of the somewhat longer construction time. :p
B
Bauabenteurer1 Dec 2014 09:56@One00 You had helpers and no small children on the construction site, right?
B
Bauexperte1 Dec 2014 10:16Hello,
It also depends on how quickly you find a plot of land — and in this context, whether the land is free or if you are required to build with a specific provider. In my experience, very strict criteria are initially applied when choosing the land; since these are rarely or never met, the first year of searching often passes before potential builders begin to widen the radius or parameters for the final plot.
Once you have found “your” plot, you start looking for — in your case — an architect. It makes sense to have a soil report and a preliminary site plan created in advance so the architect can plan properly. How quickly or slowly the final design can be prepared depends again on the chemistry between you and your architect. Once this is finally established, and the cost estimate (note: if the process is handled through an architect, the final cost at the bottom right of the summary can exceed the original estimate by up to 20%; sometimes even 30%) is within an acceptable range, the tendering process begins. Reasonably, it should include three providers for each trade; it goes without saying that selecting the right contractors takes additional time.
After the final selection is made, everything depends on the current workload of the chosen contractors and the ability of the site manager (who should be someone other than the architect) to coordinate the construction site properly.
This means it could take 3 or 4 years, but just as well 1 year until you can host your housewarming party.
Regards, Bauexperte
hausbau2015 schrieb:As Dirk already pointed out correctly, this can’t be answered satisfactorily for you. Among other things, it depends on how decisive you are. If you hesitate about making decisions, it will take longer until everything is finalized.
I’m curious about how much time you realistically need to plan for building a house. From the initial idea of the floor plan to finally moving in. Background: My husband and I both work (he’s 100% with several multi-day business trips abroad per year (1-5/year), I work 75% in an office job), and we have a toddler (over 1 year old). Possibly a second child is on the way.
It also depends on how quickly you find a plot of land — and in this context, whether the land is free or if you are required to build with a specific provider. In my experience, very strict criteria are initially applied when choosing the land; since these are rarely or never met, the first year of searching often passes before potential builders begin to widen the radius or parameters for the final plot.
Once you have found “your” plot, you start looking for — in your case — an architect. It makes sense to have a soil report and a preliminary site plan created in advance so the architect can plan properly. How quickly or slowly the final design can be prepared depends again on the chemistry between you and your architect. Once this is finally established, and the cost estimate (note: if the process is handled through an architect, the final cost at the bottom right of the summary can exceed the original estimate by up to 20%; sometimes even 30%) is within an acceptable range, the tendering process begins. Reasonably, it should include three providers for each trade; it goes without saying that selecting the right contractors takes additional time.
After the final selection is made, everything depends on the current workload of the chosen contractors and the ability of the site manager (who should be someone other than the architect) to coordinate the construction site properly.
This means it could take 3 or 4 years, but just as well 1 year until you can host your housewarming party.
Regards, Bauexperte
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