ᐅ Architect / Builder: What is the best approach?

Created on: 25 Aug 2014 14:13
S
sonny
Dear forum members,

After a long and unsuccessful search, we haven’t found a suitable used property yet. Since our apartment is gradually becoming too small with the baby and so on, we are now considering building.

We have also found a plot of land, which is not exactly cheap. Therefore, we would like to know exactly what this project would cost us.

We have a building plot of 512 sqm (5506 sq ft) available for a detached single-family house.

Tomorrow we have an appointment with an architect to put our ideas on paper. Will we receive the floor plan to take home after the meeting, and does the initial consultation usually involve a fee? How does that usually work?

We would also like to get offers from potential builders. Is that possible without a floor plan, or should I bring the one from the architect? Or do construction companies create a separate floor plan? What is the best way to approach this?

As you can see... we have absolutely no idea how to proceed 🙂

Thank you very much for your tips 🙂

Sonny
T
toxicmolotof
25 Aug 2014 22:18
By the way, you should also consider financing if you don’t have the money readily available. Otherwise, you might end up planning a 350,000 EUR house very quickly.
Y
ypg
25 Aug 2014 22:34
sonny schrieb:
Thanks for the quick replies.
If we decide to build, we would like to have a design from an architect.
Should I start contacting some construction companies at the same time to request a quote?
What exactly should I say?

You mean it like this: first a design, then the plot of land?
That’s the wrong approach!
The plot of land comes first, and financing options should be explored in parallel or even beforehand. You can save yourself the trip to the architect if you can’t afford the house or financing anyway.
The architect designs exclusively for your plot (at least that’s how it should be), so their fee will be somewhat higher—typically between 10,000 and 20,000 (currency) for a standard single-family home. That’s why you should own the land first 🙂

I’m writing this because I somehow sense a lack of commitment in your posts. It sounds as if you haven’t really informed yourself yet about house construction and the associated costs.
Until you have basic clarity, visiting an architect beyond an informational meeting could be too expensive.
First, clarify the fundamentals.
S
sonny
25 Aug 2014 22:51
Hello!
The financing is basically secured. We are also wondering what would be better: a good used house or a new build.

We have reserved the plot of land. I just don’t know how to approach this. So, we have an appointment with the architect to see what it would all cost us. How else are we supposed to find out? We don’t have to commit to anything tomorrow anyway. 🙂
Thank you.
Sonny
Y
ypg
25 Aug 2014 22:59
Well, basically you tell the architect the budget you have available, and they will create a design accordingly 🙂

You can read here in the forum how much additional construction costs (building permit fees, inspections, utilities, etc.) typically add up to, as well as how much contingency to plan for.

Anyway, make sure to attend the appointment and clarify upfront that this should only be a consultation meeting. There have been many examples of costly misunderstandings shared here in recent days 🙁
B
Bauexperte
25 Aug 2014 23:04
Good evening,
sonny schrieb:

Financing is basically settled. We are also wondering what would be better, a good used house or rather a new build.
At this point in time, if at all, that can only be "rudimentarily" true 🙄
sonny schrieb:

We have reserved the plot. I just don’t know how to approach this matter.
Have you considered having a non-binding conversation with someone who knows about this AND does not charge for this type of advice right now?
sonny schrieb:

Therefore, an appointment with the architect to see what it would all cost us? How else should we find out? We don’t have to commission anything tomorrow anyway 🙂
It seems you don’t want or cannot understand this...?

If you go to a meeting with the architect expecting them to prepare designs that go beyond a simple sketch (which, by the way, they will not hand over to you), then you have placed an order AND are obligated to pay! You don’t need to sign a contract for that 😉 More than initial information you will not get—provided the architect agrees to a free initial consultation at all.

Regards, Bauexperte
S
sonny
25 Aug 2014 23:16
Thank you for your support.
I will call the architect again tomorrow to clarify what we want to discuss and whether it will cost us anything.

But assuming we had already bought the plot and wanted to build with an architect... we would still need to meet and get advice. What exactly is the difference between an architect and a general contractor?
My husband often travels for work, so a turnkey house would be preferable for us.
Regards, sonny