Hello home builders,
As expected, our house construction is progressing much slower than initially promised. I would like to hear some experiences to get a realistic outlook for the future. We are building a turnkey solid structure with a general contractor, led primarily by an architectural firm. We signed the contract in mid-March 2015, with a 9-month construction period starting from groundbreaking. Some tasks (soil survey, heating system, structural engineering, civil engineering) are handled externally (contracted by us) or semi-externally (commissioned by the architectural firm).
Land purchase, notary, construction financing, and surveying – all done directly.
The building permit (also called planning permission) is approved, and the geothermal probe/pump is applied for and authorized.
The external soil survey took from the end of April until now (!!!!), with the surveyor exceeding the promised timeframe by 5 weeks.
We are now waiting (again) for the structural engineer, after which the civil engineer can be hired... Apparently, the structural engineer has a long queue, and due to the soil survey delay, we are now at the back of the line.
Back in March, before signing, we were told the house should be finished by the turn of the year.
I added two more months to that estimate, so I was expecting to move in by the end of February/March 2016.
The critical point is that I need to move and find a new job then.
What do you think is a realistic target?
As expected, our house construction is progressing much slower than initially promised. I would like to hear some experiences to get a realistic outlook for the future. We are building a turnkey solid structure with a general contractor, led primarily by an architectural firm. We signed the contract in mid-March 2015, with a 9-month construction period starting from groundbreaking. Some tasks (soil survey, heating system, structural engineering, civil engineering) are handled externally (contracted by us) or semi-externally (commissioned by the architectural firm).
Land purchase, notary, construction financing, and surveying – all done directly.
The building permit (also called planning permission) is approved, and the geothermal probe/pump is applied for and authorized.
The external soil survey took from the end of April until now (!!!!), with the surveyor exceeding the promised timeframe by 5 weeks.
We are now waiting (again) for the structural engineer, after which the civil engineer can be hired... Apparently, the structural engineer has a long queue, and due to the soil survey delay, we are now at the back of the line.
Back in March, before signing, we were told the house should be finished by the turn of the year.
I added two more months to that estimate, so I was expecting to move in by the end of February/March 2016.
The critical point is that I need to move and find a new job then.
What do you think is a realistic target?
Hello Nina,
the answer to your question, as is often the case, is: "it depends."
Once things get started, it can move very quickly. However, it can also drag on for a long time.
For us, it began in mid-February. But then there was a break of about three weeks because a condition in the building permit / planning permission was initially misinterpreted.
Meanwhile, the screed has been drying for over a week. Originally, our move was planned for the end of November. Now we expect it to be at the beginning of October.
However, there are plenty of examples here in the forum where the opposite is true.
My only advice is to keep following up constantly and always ask the companies involved about the current processing status.
the answer to your question, as is often the case, is: "it depends."
Once things get started, it can move very quickly. However, it can also drag on for a long time.
For us, it began in mid-February. But then there was a break of about three weeks because a condition in the building permit / planning permission was initially misinterpreted.
Meanwhile, the screed has been drying for over a week. Originally, our move was planned for the end of November. Now we expect it to be at the beginning of October.
However, there are plenty of examples here in the forum where the opposite is true.
My only advice is to keep following up constantly and always ask the companies involved about the current processing status.
Hello,
that is naturally a bit frustrating, but honestly, waiting times are unfortunately quite normal when building... Having EVERYTHING run smoothly and seamlessly together is more the exception than the rule.
You will probably only be able to start building your house in July. That means, until the end of February, it would be just 8 months of construction time... I don’t know how fast everything will go for you, but I would expect at least 9 months of construction for a solid structure house. To be honest, I would even plan for 1-2 months more, since you still need to choose and arrange furniture, maybe paint and wallpaper as well...
Imagine if you can’t decide on certain sanitary fixtures right away and that takes 2-3 weeks longer than planned... Just the screed, for example, needs at least 6 weeks to dry before you can install the floors. We took about 3-4 weeks in total for the electrical work, even though planning was finished and the actual installation could have been done in one week... We did a lot ourselves and the electrician didn’t always have time to come to our construction site immediately, so we also had waiting times there.
that is naturally a bit frustrating, but honestly, waiting times are unfortunately quite normal when building... Having EVERYTHING run smoothly and seamlessly together is more the exception than the rule.
You will probably only be able to start building your house in July. That means, until the end of February, it would be just 8 months of construction time... I don’t know how fast everything will go for you, but I would expect at least 9 months of construction for a solid structure house. To be honest, I would even plan for 1-2 months more, since you still need to choose and arrange furniture, maybe paint and wallpaper as well...
Imagine if you can’t decide on certain sanitary fixtures right away and that takes 2-3 weeks longer than planned... Just the screed, for example, needs at least 6 weeks to dry before you can install the floors. We took about 3-4 weeks in total for the electrical work, even though planning was finished and the actual installation could have been done in one week... We did a lot ourselves and the electrician didn’t always have time to come to our construction site immediately, so we also had waiting times there.
Hello Nina,
Unfortunately, as long as everything is not complete, your project keeps being placed on hold by the company. Like any business, they do not waste working hours unless everything is securely in place. Your project is certainly on their radar, but it does not have priority yet.
Now that everything is available, the project is being resumed. It may happen that you receive a call on Friday informing you that earthworks will begin on Monday. However, it could still take a few weeks.
We often forget that building a house is usually a one-time event for us, while the construction company works on several projects staggered over time. In March, it was said that you would move in by Christmas – but that was before the delay caused by the soil survey.
I do not want to take away your hope, but underestimating the construction period could cost you dearly next year. If you currently have a three-month notice period for terminating your lease, you should only use it towards the end of the year—that is, cancel your lease only when the interior trades begin. You can certainly apply for jobs now or before moving since you probably already know the address.
Best of luck,
Yvonne, who was in the same situation and had to store her furniture temporarily for several months...
Unfortunately, as long as everything is not complete, your project keeps being placed on hold by the company. Like any business, they do not waste working hours unless everything is securely in place. Your project is certainly on their radar, but it does not have priority yet.
Now that everything is available, the project is being resumed. It may happen that you receive a call on Friday informing you that earthworks will begin on Monday. However, it could still take a few weeks.
We often forget that building a house is usually a one-time event for us, while the construction company works on several projects staggered over time. In March, it was said that you would move in by Christmas – but that was before the delay caused by the soil survey.
I do not want to take away your hope, but underestimating the construction period could cost you dearly next year. If you currently have a three-month notice period for terminating your lease, you should only use it towards the end of the year—that is, cancel your lease only when the interior trades begin. You can certainly apply for jobs now or before moving since you probably already know the address.
Best of luck,
Yvonne, who was in the same situation and had to store her furniture temporarily for several months...
Thank you all for your assessments! It seems my gut feeling was not entirely wrong that the space will be rather tight.
Of course, the construction company won’t wait around all day for us... it just often feels like we’re left hanging. Above all, I feel like we’re missing out on the good building months (summer). I’m also aware that their commitments are usually not kept.
We will do very little ourselves due to lack of expertise... basically only the flooring. The question is whether that’s good or bad.
I will definitely quit my current job by November (I reluctantly extended the contract for so long), but after that I have a 3–4 month buffer period during which I want/need to finish my dissertation. I had hoped to apply for new jobs by around 02/15 or 03/01, but I think that will be tight. Of course, I don’t want to be “unemployed” for more than 3–4 months either. My partner commutes between the current and future home locations, which is not a problem.
In the new town, we have his parents’ house, which has plenty of space for all of us. However, we are moving with two outdoor cats, and I don’t want to put them through more than just the actual move. Also, I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to stay at his mother’s place. Thanks to our parents, we have space to temporarily store furniture in both locations, so that’s not an issue.
Of course, the construction company won’t wait around all day for us... it just often feels like we’re left hanging. Above all, I feel like we’re missing out on the good building months (summer). I’m also aware that their commitments are usually not kept.
We will do very little ourselves due to lack of expertise... basically only the flooring. The question is whether that’s good or bad.
I will definitely quit my current job by November (I reluctantly extended the contract for so long), but after that I have a 3–4 month buffer period during which I want/need to finish my dissertation. I had hoped to apply for new jobs by around 02/15 or 03/01, but I think that will be tight. Of course, I don’t want to be “unemployed” for more than 3–4 months either. My partner commutes between the current and future home locations, which is not a problem.
In the new town, we have his parents’ house, which has plenty of space for all of us. However, we are moving with two outdoor cats, and I don’t want to put them through more than just the actual move. Also, I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to stay at his mother’s place. Thanks to our parents, we have space to temporarily store furniture in both locations, so that’s not an issue.
B
Bieber081523 Jun 2015 23:16Nina132 schrieb:
I will definitely leave my current employer in November (I only reluctantly extended the contract for this long), but then I have a 3-4 month buffer during which I want/need to finish my dissertation. Sigh, I would also like to have those three to four months
By the way, on the topic... Since the initial statement that "we could be finished by February 2016," we have easily spent two months just on planning. The contract is finally expected to be signed in mid-July, and only then will things really start.
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