ᐅ Experiences with Construction Companies in the Hamburg Area
Created on: 18 Jan 2016 22:28
C
Chris2806C
Chris280618 Jan 2016 22:28Hello everyone,
After an initial review of our finances, my girlfriend and I have decided to build our own house. Our advantage is that we would receive a plot of land (about 2000 sqm (0.5 acres)) from my parents-in-law.
We have a total monthly income of 3900€ and want to keep the pure construction costs (excluding additional expenses) around 210,000€ to 220,000€. The house itself should be approximately 150 sqm to 180 sqm (1,615 to 1,940 sq ft). Since we would also like to participate in the work ourselves and time is not an issue (we live virtually rent-free right next to the building plot), we have looked into the method of insulated concrete formwork (ICF) construction.
Since there are various pros and cons discussed here in the forum, we wanted to ask if anyone from the greater Hamburg (Lüneburg) area has successfully built with this system.
We would like to find a general contractor who supplies the materials and also provides support during critical construction phases (such as concrete pouring).
Ideally, we would also have our own architect involved, although we will probably rely on an external one (Do you have a rough estimate of how much it costs to have a house like this designed?).
So far, we have found the companies Argisol and variant-Haus-Group.de. Maybe there are other options as well.
I would really appreciate your help and kindly ask you to refrain from condescending comments.
Thank you in advance.
After an initial review of our finances, my girlfriend and I have decided to build our own house. Our advantage is that we would receive a plot of land (about 2000 sqm (0.5 acres)) from my parents-in-law.
We have a total monthly income of 3900€ and want to keep the pure construction costs (excluding additional expenses) around 210,000€ to 220,000€. The house itself should be approximately 150 sqm to 180 sqm (1,615 to 1,940 sq ft). Since we would also like to participate in the work ourselves and time is not an issue (we live virtually rent-free right next to the building plot), we have looked into the method of insulated concrete formwork (ICF) construction.
Since there are various pros and cons discussed here in the forum, we wanted to ask if anyone from the greater Hamburg (Lüneburg) area has successfully built with this system.
We would like to find a general contractor who supplies the materials and also provides support during critical construction phases (such as concrete pouring).
Ideally, we would also have our own architect involved, although we will probably rely on an external one (Do you have a rough estimate of how much it costs to have a house like this designed?).
So far, we have found the companies Argisol and variant-Haus-Group.de. Maybe there are other options as well.
I would really appreciate your help and kindly ask you to refrain from condescending comments.
Thank you in advance.
C
Chris280621 Jan 2016 18:29hm too bad... I thought there might still be one or two others
Hello
1.) There is a specific section for such inquiries.
2.) No one here can give you "real" experiences, because no one is allowed to speak badly about companies (restraining orders, legal fees, and so on).
3.) Your price of 220,000 just for the house (so plus land and additional costs like connection fees, notary, etc.) is completely impossible for 180 sqm (1,937 sq ft).
4.) It is called a construction company, not a developer. A developer sells you a finished house with land. If the land is yours, it’s not a developer!
5.) What do you really want to do yourself during the construction? I am located north of Hamburg and we worked with a construction company where the trades were perfectly coordinated. If you take on just one trade yourself, the company would have a hard time because the owner always takes longer than the workers. (The following trades would constantly have to be rescheduled, new workflows created, and so on.) Not everyone has the time at any moment...
We got a schedule two weeks before surveying the site that showed exactly which trade would do what on which day. In the end, it was delayed by two weeks due to residual moisture in the screed, but otherwise everything fit perfectly to the day.
You have the time, but the construction company does not. If you want to do a lot yourself (and take on a whole trade), an "architect-designed house" is certainly the better option. You can specify what you want to do yourself and what you don’t, and the trades are contracted individually. That takes longer, but you have the time.
On the other hand, you don’t know at the start what this will cost you in the end. Because it will always be more expensive.
1.) There is a specific section for such inquiries.
2.) No one here can give you "real" experiences, because no one is allowed to speak badly about companies (restraining orders, legal fees, and so on).
3.) Your price of 220,000 just for the house (so plus land and additional costs like connection fees, notary, etc.) is completely impossible for 180 sqm (1,937 sq ft).
4.) It is called a construction company, not a developer. A developer sells you a finished house with land. If the land is yours, it’s not a developer!
5.) What do you really want to do yourself during the construction? I am located north of Hamburg and we worked with a construction company where the trades were perfectly coordinated. If you take on just one trade yourself, the company would have a hard time because the owner always takes longer than the workers. (The following trades would constantly have to be rescheduled, new workflows created, and so on.) Not everyone has the time at any moment...
We got a schedule two weeks before surveying the site that showed exactly which trade would do what on which day. In the end, it was delayed by two weeks due to residual moisture in the screed, but otherwise everything fit perfectly to the day.
You have the time, but the construction company does not. If you want to do a lot yourself (and take on a whole trade), an "architect-designed house" is certainly the better option. You can specify what you want to do yourself and what you don’t, and the trades are contracted individually. That takes longer, but you have the time.
On the other hand, you don’t know at the start what this will cost you in the end. Because it will always be more expensive.
C
Chris280623 Jan 2016 12:36Thank you for your input.
But just to mention, I already wrote above that we already have a serviced plot of land. The €220,000 referred to the PURE house construction cost. We are aware that additional costs will apply.
But just to mention, I already wrote above that we already have a serviced plot of land. The €220,000 referred to the PURE house construction cost. We are aware that additional costs will apply.
It was already clear to me that the plot of land is already owned. Still, €220,000 just for the house without additional costs is not feasible for 180 sqm (1,940 sq ft). The rule of thumb here on the forum is from €1,500 per sqm (approximately $1,600 per sq ft) without extras (basically a solid masonry construction), and from €1,600 per sqm (approximately $1,720 per sq ft) it starts to get interesting (including electric roller shutters, ventilation systems, etc.).
180 sqm * €1,600 = €290,000
Our house costs €200,000 without additional costs/land (and without selections for bathroom, front door, electrical work, etc.) for 125 sqm (1,345 sq ft).
If I subtract the land and mandatory additional costs (all official permits, taxes, connections to utilities), we paid a total of €250,000 for 125 sqm (1,345 sq ft) town villa, including all extras and selections. That corresponds to €2,000 per sqm (approximately $2,150 per sq ft), but we really went all out and didn’t stick to standard in any trade.
You want to build for €1,250 per sqm (approximately $1,345 per sq ft); you might barely manage that with a lot of luck with a team like Team Massive House. If you live just "behind Hamburg," I can recommend the company Kagebau, which completes the entire shell construction itself and works with fixed local companies. From staking the plot to weather-tight house takes about 4 weeks. The company has a “large” model park with 6 houses in one place, which you can explore freely without an appointment.
180 sqm * €1,600 = €290,000
Our house costs €200,000 without additional costs/land (and without selections for bathroom, front door, electrical work, etc.) for 125 sqm (1,345 sq ft).
If I subtract the land and mandatory additional costs (all official permits, taxes, connections to utilities), we paid a total of €250,000 for 125 sqm (1,345 sq ft) town villa, including all extras and selections. That corresponds to €2,000 per sqm (approximately $2,150 per sq ft), but we really went all out and didn’t stick to standard in any trade.
You want to build for €1,250 per sqm (approximately $1,345 per sq ft); you might barely manage that with a lot of luck with a team like Team Massive House. If you live just "behind Hamburg," I can recommend the company Kagebau, which completes the entire shell construction itself and works with fixed local companies. From staking the plot to weather-tight house takes about 4 weeks. The company has a “large” model park with 6 houses in one place, which you can explore freely without an appointment.
Payday schrieb:
The rule of thumb here in the forum is from 1500€/m² (140 USD/sq ft) without extrasNot only here in the forum... but also in practice