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?
H
HilfeHilfe24 Jun 2015 08:41Hello,
how far is the distance to a potential employer from your current residence? Could you – or would you be willing to – accept a longer, more demanding commute during this period?
Just an idea, so you don’t end up “idling” unnecessarily. However, I would like to point out one thing. Especially later on, it can only be beneficial to be flexible with the construction process. The same applies to moving in.
It might also not be ideal to start fresh and constantly be tied up on the phone because of the build.
Just my thoughts.
how far is the distance to a potential employer from your current residence? Could you – or would you be willing to – accept a longer, more demanding commute during this period?
Just an idea, so you don’t end up “idling” unnecessarily. However, I would like to point out one thing. Especially later on, it can only be beneficial to be flexible with the construction process. The same applies to moving in.
It might also not be ideal to start fresh and constantly be tied up on the phone because of the build.
Just my thoughts.
Planning started in February, preliminary contract signed in April, building permit application submitted on May 20, and construction contract signed on May 20. The selections for fittings and finishes are completed.
Exemption from the building permit was granted on June 18.
Offers for civil engineering work (utility connections) and gas connection are available. Start of construction contractually guaranteed within a maximum of 8 weeks... so far, everything is going very smoothly *knock on wood*
Exemption from the building permit was granted on June 18.
Offers for civil engineering work (utility connections) and gas connection are available. Start of construction contractually guaranteed within a maximum of 8 weeks... so far, everything is going very smoothly *knock on wood*
projekthausbau24 Jun 2015 09:20I find a construction period of 9 months from groundbreaking already quite long.
projekthausbau schrieb:
I think a 9-month construction period from groundbreaking is quite long.I don't think so.
Okay – our build took 6.5 months (solid construction). But everything went really smoothly (except for one extra week of drying time). The different trades handed over work seamlessly and sometimes worked together on site.
From what I’ve heard, a 9-month construction period is still reasonable. You have to consider that the house needs to dry properly before certain other trades can proceed. The drying phase will take place in winter here. As far as I know, cold air absorbs moisture better, but the drying process itself is a bit slower due to the low temperatures.
In the past, houses were often built over the winter because of drying — with construction times longer than 12 months.
f-pNo schrieb:
As far as I know, cold air absorbs moisture better Cold air actually holds less moisture—that's the key point when drying out buildings. Incorrect ventilation = damp walls.
Let’s say you heat your home to 21°C (70°F) during the day and want to save energy at night by lowering the temperature to 12°C (54°F) in all rooms. The cold air can no longer hold the moisture it absorbed during the day, leading to condensation forming in the coldest spots.
That’s why ventilate briefly and thoroughly by fully exchanging the air, then close the windows again—or use an automatic ventilation system.
Houses drying out in their shell over the winter was more due to the construction technology of the time and the builders’ patience. You could build a house in winter and dry it in summer, but that hardly makes sense.
projekthausbau schrieb:
I think a construction period of 9 months from groundbreaking is already quite long.I believe the mentioned 9 months include some buffer time. If the project finishes faster, that’s great — the client will be pleased.
If the builder quotes a shorter timeframe and it unexpectedly takes longer, it leaves a negative impression — the client will be dissatisfied.
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