ᐅ Building an End-Terrace House as a Self-Managed Project with a General Contractor
Created on: 27 May 2019 10:48
G
goalkeeper
Hello everyone,
some of you might have already followed one of my threads about us having to or being allowed to build our end-terrace house on our own responsibility – depending on how you look at it. This means that we are buying an end-terrace plot (215 sqm (2315 sq ft)) in a new development area in the Rhein-Neckar district and will be building on it ourselves – but in coordination with our two terrace neighbors.
The municipality, which sold the plots through a local resident model, ideally wanted applicants to apply as a complete housing group with several families and then build accordingly with a general contractor, construction manager, or architect. Of course, that didn’t really work out, so now there are only individual applicants and also homeowners.
After we were awarded the plot, the addresses of the other terrace neighbors were shared to discuss certain matters, such as roof style, whether or not to have a basement, etc. It was immediately clear that everyone preferred to do their own thing. However, we were still able to agree that the housing group will have a gable roof with a pitch of 35 to 40 degrees (within this 5-degree range).
As the end house, we will build without a basement, while the middle house and the other end house will have basements. This obviously presents a challenge as we would have to make a deep foundation or simply skip it, and the middle house would have to support us, as we will start construction first. The current agreement with the middle house is that we will build a deeper foundation at his expense, as supporting our house later on would be considerably more expensive for him.
We are currently close to signing with the construction manager, the notarization appointment for the plot is at the end of June, and we hope to start construction in the fall of this year. Meanwhile, several other freely planned housing groups are being built around us, which might get in the way with their cranes.
I will document the progress here from time to time – such a self-planned terraced house doesn’t come along very often.
some of you might have already followed one of my threads about us having to or being allowed to build our end-terrace house on our own responsibility – depending on how you look at it. This means that we are buying an end-terrace plot (215 sqm (2315 sq ft)) in a new development area in the Rhein-Neckar district and will be building on it ourselves – but in coordination with our two terrace neighbors.
The municipality, which sold the plots through a local resident model, ideally wanted applicants to apply as a complete housing group with several families and then build accordingly with a general contractor, construction manager, or architect. Of course, that didn’t really work out, so now there are only individual applicants and also homeowners.
After we were awarded the plot, the addresses of the other terrace neighbors were shared to discuss certain matters, such as roof style, whether or not to have a basement, etc. It was immediately clear that everyone preferred to do their own thing. However, we were still able to agree that the housing group will have a gable roof with a pitch of 35 to 40 degrees (within this 5-degree range).
As the end house, we will build without a basement, while the middle house and the other end house will have basements. This obviously presents a challenge as we would have to make a deep foundation or simply skip it, and the middle house would have to support us, as we will start construction first. The current agreement with the middle house is that we will build a deeper foundation at his expense, as supporting our house later on would be considerably more expensive for him.
We are currently close to signing with the construction manager, the notarization appointment for the plot is at the end of June, and we hope to start construction in the fall of this year. Meanwhile, several other freely planned housing groups are being built around us, which might get in the way with their cranes.
I will document the progress here from time to time – such a self-planned terraced house doesn’t come along very often.
goalkeeper schrieb:
...let’s see if he still feels like building after the foundation recommendation. or if you end up getting more garden space next to the house.That would be quite ironic if the challenging foundation conditions make the middle house unsellable. In that case, the municipality would have really messed up big time, in addition to the other odd decisions. How about the other townhouses in the development? Is there already a middle house built?
G
goalkeeper1 May 2020 08:57Almost all the middle houses have started construction— all coordinated with their neighbors. For 90% of them, this also works well.
We are also the only end unit where none of the neighbors have started building yet. Therefore, finalizing the terrace and parking space is also difficult.
Due to the many changes in interested parties at the time combined with the naivety of our neighbor, this is the result.
We are also the only end unit where none of the neighbors have started building yet. Therefore, finalizing the terrace and parking space is also difficult.
Due to the many changes in interested parties at the time combined with the naivety of our neighbor, this is the result.
G
goalkeeper3 May 2020 14:13We have the handover on Thursday and are already going through all the rooms in advance.
What exactly should we pay attention to?
What do we have to accept regarding tile installation, for example? Some are partially uneven, and a few stainless steel strips show discoloration at the cut edges.
Do you have any tips for us?
What exactly should we pay attention to?
What do we have to accept regarding tile installation, for example? Some are partially uneven, and a few stainless steel strips show discoloration at the cut edges.
Do you have any tips for us?
Removing the tiles again would only be necessary if they are really crooked in a very noticeable spot. For minor issues, you’re more likely to get a discount.
What was important to me personally was that all doors and windows open and close smoothly. Also, the interior doors should stay in place and not close by themselves (unfortunately, our door installer didn’t manage that 100%). However, he readjusted all of them together with us.
Check all glass parts for any damage. We actually had to replace one.
The technical systems must work, of course. The electrical installations need to function properly.
Test all faucets, showers, and toilets in the wet rooms.
Inspect all wooden parts for scratches.
Other than that, I wouldn’t overemphasize this appointment. You still have a 5-year warranty.
What was important to me personally was that all doors and windows open and close smoothly. Also, the interior doors should stay in place and not close by themselves (unfortunately, our door installer didn’t manage that 100%). However, he readjusted all of them together with us.
Check all glass parts for any damage. We actually had to replace one.
The technical systems must work, of course. The electrical installations need to function properly.
Test all faucets, showers, and toilets in the wet rooms.
Inspect all wooden parts for scratches.
Other than that, I wouldn’t overemphasize this appointment. You still have a 5-year warranty.
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