ᐅ Construction supervision through a homeowners’ protection association, private builders’ organization, technical inspection agency (such as TÜV or DEKRA), independent expert, or another option...?
Created on: 2 Dec 2015 16:04
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Bauexperte
A friendly hello to everyone,
who doesn’t know it... or has at least read or heard somewhere: external construction supervision is supposed to help avoid trouble/problems during the adventure of building a house!
Since this topic often comes up in discussions, I would like to ask you to share your personal experiences with experts or associations on the way to your own home in this thread:
Homeowners who consciously decided against external supervision:
As this thread fills up with contributions (which I hope it will), I will pin it at the top of this section. Then every potential homeowner – before starting their project – can get information on the pros and cons of both options.
Thanks for your support!
Best regards, Bauexperte
who doesn’t know it... or has at least read or heard somewhere: external construction supervision is supposed to help avoid trouble/problems during the adventure of building a house!
Since this topic often comes up in discussions, I would like to ask you to share your personal experiences with experts or associations on the way to your own home in this thread:
- Why did you hire external construction supervision?
- Which expert did you work with?
- How many inspections (at which stage of the construction process) did you arrange?
- What did it cost?
- What are your experiences?
- Would you make the same decision again?
Homeowners who consciously decided against external supervision:
- Why did you choose not to use an expert?
- What are your experiences?
- Would you decide the same way again?
As this thread fills up with contributions (which I hope it will), I will pin it at the top of this section. Then every potential homeowner – before starting their project – can get information on the pros and cons of both options.
Thanks for your support!
Best regards, Bauexperte
…we are currently facing exactly this question as well!
Thanks to Bauexperte for bringing up this important topic.
Should we hire a private expert even though the general contractor (GC) has already contractually arranged for a neutral building inspector in addition to site supervision (but only for 2 appointments: 1 during construction, 1 before handover)?
Our main concern, as mentioned in some forum posts, is about maintaining a good and constructive working relationship between the GC, our expert, and ourselves.
Depending on how the expert approaches the situation, this relationship with the builder could potentially become worse. It strongly depends on the individual expert. After all, who wants to be lectured or confronted about defects?
In our case, it is a turnkey solid construction, single-story on a slab foundation, all from one source. The GC is a local company (at the building site) with a good reputation, which they would have much to lose. We spoke with former clients of this company, who confirmed this.
From my professional experience, I am unfortunately aware of "independent experts" whom I would not necessarily classify as established professionals (unfortunately not from the building construction sector).
What do you think?
Thanks to Bauexperte for bringing up this important topic.
Should we hire a private expert even though the general contractor (GC) has already contractually arranged for a neutral building inspector in addition to site supervision (but only for 2 appointments: 1 during construction, 1 before handover)?
Our main concern, as mentioned in some forum posts, is about maintaining a good and constructive working relationship between the GC, our expert, and ourselves.
Depending on how the expert approaches the situation, this relationship with the builder could potentially become worse. It strongly depends on the individual expert. After all, who wants to be lectured or confronted about defects?
In our case, it is a turnkey solid construction, single-story on a slab foundation, all from one source. The GC is a local company (at the building site) with a good reputation, which they would have much to lose. We spoke with former clients of this company, who confirmed this.
From my professional experience, I am unfortunately aware of "independent experts" whom I would not necessarily classify as established professionals (unfortunately not from the building construction sector).
What do you think?
Based on my unfortunate experience, it has to be done this way: during the final inspection, the expert must create an independent defect report. This report either matches the builder’s report or not, usually because the builder refuses to document the defect.
What you have checked in advance and which expert you choose is up to each individual. Freedom also means personal responsibility!
This report then serves as the basis for the lawyer and simplifies many things regarding defect claims and, if necessary, filing a lawsuit. Since the expert is present anyway, they should also document their observations! The problem is that most simply don’t do this because they can charge extra later.
If those 800€ are too expensive, you will have to spend countless nights struggling through forums and reading up. The result is always the same: we should have done the inspection with the expert…
These are also the same people who rope in all their friends for an unorganized move in exchange for a beer and cheap sausage. Taking out loans of 300,000€ and bragging about owning property, yet not having the funds for an expert and a moving company.
We ourselves filed a lawsuit in August 2016, and the court hearing was postponed twice (courts are overwhelmed with certain types of claims, you know what I mean). So it will definitely take over a year.
With the expert’s report backing you up, things would have gone much faster.
A lawyer cannot detail defects as precisely as the expert, and the judge clears the lawsuit more quickly with this information. The opposing party also knows this…
With hard-earned regards
What you have checked in advance and which expert you choose is up to each individual. Freedom also means personal responsibility!
This report then serves as the basis for the lawyer and simplifies many things regarding defect claims and, if necessary, filing a lawsuit. Since the expert is present anyway, they should also document their observations! The problem is that most simply don’t do this because they can charge extra later.
If those 800€ are too expensive, you will have to spend countless nights struggling through forums and reading up. The result is always the same: we should have done the inspection with the expert…
These are also the same people who rope in all their friends for an unorganized move in exchange for a beer and cheap sausage. Taking out loans of 300,000€ and bragging about owning property, yet not having the funds for an expert and a moving company.
We ourselves filed a lawsuit in August 2016, and the court hearing was postponed twice (courts are overwhelmed with certain types of claims, you know what I mean). So it will definitely take over a year.
With the expert’s report backing you up, things would have gone much faster.
A lawyer cannot detail defects as precisely as the expert, and the judge clears the lawsuit more quickly with this information. The opposing party also knows this…
With hard-earned regards
Stahlbauer28 Dec 2018 21:13Most people assume that an expert covers all trades, but in reality, it is not only impossible for an expert to cover every trade, it is even legally prohibited as unfair competition!
Experts who call themselves construction experts and claim to cover everything are not allowed according to §3 UWG and are misleading!
The reason, which should be obvious to everyone, is: “No expert is capable of possessing such extensive expertise across all areas of construction.” Experts and specialists can only cover a limited scope due to the complexity involved.
One thing I am sure of is that, as an expert in metalworking, I encounter so many standards, guidelines, and ongoing changes that it is impossible to cover a second trade—even aluminum construction, which I am also qualified for!
Experts who call themselves construction experts and claim to cover everything are not allowed according to §3 UWG and are misleading!
The reason, which should be obvious to everyone, is: “No expert is capable of possessing such extensive expertise across all areas of construction.” Experts and specialists can only cover a limited scope due to the complexity involved.
One thing I am sure of is that, as an expert in metalworking, I encounter so many standards, guidelines, and ongoing changes that it is impossible to cover a second trade—even aluminum construction, which I am also qualified for!
I
Illya-Berlin3 Jul 2019 13:28Hello everyone,
For us, the topic of building inspectors has now become relevant. We hope to gain new insights here. We would be very grateful for your experiences and opinions.
We live in Berlin and are planning to build an urban villa with the company “City-Haus” in Brandenburg (prefabricated solid expanded clay wall panels + mineral wool insulation + brick cladding). My research showed that this homebuilder is hardly mentioned in this forum, which means many may not be familiar with them.
Unfortunately, we realized too late (only now) that involving a building inspector BEFORE signing the contract—especially for reviewing the contract and the construction specifications, as well as contract negotiations—would have been advisable or even necessary. But it is what it is. We already have a building permit / planning permission. The groundwork can start in about 2–3 months.
That means no construction work has begun yet. Now we want a building inspector to monitor our project from this point on until final acceptance, plus one inspection shortly before the warranty period expires.
As beginners, we do not know any building inspectors ourselves. Does anyone know a good one from personal direct experience? Can anyone recommend a reliable building savings contract in the Berlin/Brandenburg/Barnim area?
We are aware of the offer from the Building Protection Association. We would also like to consider other building savings contracts. Real practical experience is very important because we have already had a very bad experience with a recommended (!) soil expert.
Thank you very much in advance!
For us, the topic of building inspectors has now become relevant. We hope to gain new insights here. We would be very grateful for your experiences and opinions.
We live in Berlin and are planning to build an urban villa with the company “City-Haus” in Brandenburg (prefabricated solid expanded clay wall panels + mineral wool insulation + brick cladding). My research showed that this homebuilder is hardly mentioned in this forum, which means many may not be familiar with them.
Unfortunately, we realized too late (only now) that involving a building inspector BEFORE signing the contract—especially for reviewing the contract and the construction specifications, as well as contract negotiations—would have been advisable or even necessary. But it is what it is. We already have a building permit / planning permission. The groundwork can start in about 2–3 months.
That means no construction work has begun yet. Now we want a building inspector to monitor our project from this point on until final acceptance, plus one inspection shortly before the warranty period expires.
As beginners, we do not know any building inspectors ourselves. Does anyone know a good one from personal direct experience? Can anyone recommend a reliable building savings contract in the Berlin/Brandenburg/Barnim area?
We are aware of the offer from the Building Protection Association. We would also like to consider other building savings contracts. Real practical experience is very important because we have already had a very bad experience with a recommended (!) soil expert.
Thank you very much in advance!
Subwkloofer21 Dec 2019 10:06Illya-Berlin schrieb:
Unfortunately, as beginners, we don’t know any certified building inspectors. Does anyone have personal direct experience with a good one? Can anyone recommend a solid home savings contract (building society contract) in the Berlin/Brandenburg/Barnim area? We are in a very similar situation. Next year we will start with our general contractor and have done preliminary planning with an architect who will not be involved in supervising the construction.
Now the question arises: which home builders’ protection association/organization should one contact in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)?
Personally, I find it very confusing and unclear.
There are countless websites for “associations” or those claiming to be associations. Some look professional, while others make you wonder if they might be scams.
Home Builders’ Association XYZ...DE, NET, COM...
Most have their registered office in Berlin.
I doubt whether we, as residents of East Westphalia, would be covered properly by them...
TÜV and DEKRA are clear and reputable, but in terms of scope and cost they are a different league. (Sometimes over €500 (over $540) per trade/appointment plus extras.)
Has anyone had experience with a reliable association or organization, possibly even in NRW?
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allstar8321 Dec 2019 14:01Adieu schrieb:
Planning inaccuraciesWhat would be an example of an inaccuracy?Similar topics