ᐅ How do you get started? When should you hire which professionals for which tasks?
Created on: 29 Sep 2019 18:15
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dr2okevin
Hello,
I have decided to build a single-family house. I have already read a lot about it and could answer many detailed questions, but I can never find information about the first steps. How do I get an approximate idea of the cost of my desired house without immediately paying several thousand for an architect? How do I find a plot of land? How can I tell if my idea for the house will fit on the plot, or how many square meters (square feet) of living space would be suitable for me?
I know what I want:
A basement, underfloor heating, a heat pump with a cooling function (probably with a ground collector), photovoltaic panels and solar thermal system (possibly integrated directly into the roof without tiles underneath?), a smart home system (probably Homematic), a double garage with electric vehicle charging capabilities, and preparations for a home battery.
I also already know the type of rooms I want, the kind of features they should have, and roughly where they should be located in the house.
I assume I will need an architect to realize my wishes. But my questions are: When should I bring the architect on board? When do costs start to occur? And who else do I need? The construction companies will surely need to be coordinated by someone.
Regarding my financial possibilities, I still plan to discuss this with a banker friend, but at the moment, I estimate a budget of about 300,000 euros (approximately $330,000), with about 30% saved as equity so far.
I am currently single but want to plan the house so that it can comfortably accommodate up to four people with minimal renovations.
I have decided to build a single-family house. I have already read a lot about it and could answer many detailed questions, but I can never find information about the first steps. How do I get an approximate idea of the cost of my desired house without immediately paying several thousand for an architect? How do I find a plot of land? How can I tell if my idea for the house will fit on the plot, or how many square meters (square feet) of living space would be suitable for me?
I know what I want:
A basement, underfloor heating, a heat pump with a cooling function (probably with a ground collector), photovoltaic panels and solar thermal system (possibly integrated directly into the roof without tiles underneath?), a smart home system (probably Homematic), a double garage with electric vehicle charging capabilities, and preparations for a home battery.
I also already know the type of rooms I want, the kind of features they should have, and roughly where they should be located in the house.
I assume I will need an architect to realize my wishes. But my questions are: When should I bring the architect on board? When do costs start to occur? And who else do I need? The construction companies will surely need to be coordinated by someone.
Regarding my financial possibilities, I still plan to discuss this with a banker friend, but at the moment, I estimate a budget of about 300,000 euros (approximately $330,000), with about 30% saved as equity so far.
I am currently single but want to plan the house so that it can comfortably accommodate up to four people with minimal renovations.
H
hampshire29 Sep 2019 21:09Another reasonable approach is this: First, you develop a clear idea of how you want to live (without starting by asking with what or in what). You buy a plot of land in a location where you feel comfortable, that suits your infrastructure needs, where you have good neighbors, and above all, that meets the requirements for the "how." Then you take your "how" concept to an architect and have them create a "what" within a given budget. You then iteratively adjust this "what" together with your architect. Once you have a plan, you obtain the necessary building permit / planning permission (either yourself or through your architect), tender the plan or the trades, and get started.
Bookstar schrieb:
With your preferences regarding the plot, you could reach the million mark. However, with 300,000 in equity and a good income, it might work out.
With that budget, I would typically go to an architect and outsource everything. From what I understand in his post, he estimates his budget at 300,000, of which about 30% is available as equity....
dr2okevin schrieb:
I have already read a lot about it and could answer some detailed questions, but I never find anything about the first steps. This is what is called a causal relationship: there is no overlap between detailed questions and the first steps. Clarify the essentials first. And at some point—when it comes to the details—figure out their priority before researching them in depth.
dr2okevin schrieb:
How do I know if my idea for a house fits on the plot of land, This is determined by the national building code and the development plan or the buildings in the neighborhood. Around a plot size between 500 and 800 sqm (5400 and 8600 sq ft), you reach the scale where you can actually play “wishful thinking.” Below that—about from 350 sqm (3800 sq ft) on—you can have some wishes. If the plot is even smaller, it doesn’t really matter what you want; then only semi-detached housing is feasible.
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H
hampshire29 Sep 2019 21:48Let me be more specific:
You talk to the architect and give them a budget guideline. Either they are motivated to work within that or they’ll quickly decline. Such an initial consultation is free of charge. Choose one who is enthusiastic about your project. They’ll be motivated if they have creative freedom. Provide a clear but also somewhat flexible framework in the details. So know how you want to live.
The size depends on the “how.” For example, two of us manage perfectly well with 115 m² (1,235 sq ft). Forget the idea of “price per square meter.” It’s better to build your small dream home with a generous price per square meter than to optimize purely for square meter cost and end up in a “villa” where you don’t actually live the way you want. Of course, some hobbies naturally require space, like a snooker room.
dr2okevin schrieb:
How can I get an approximate idea of the cost of my dream home without immediately paying thousands for an architect?
You talk to the architect and give them a budget guideline. Either they are motivated to work within that or they’ll quickly decline. Such an initial consultation is free of charge. Choose one who is enthusiastic about your project. They’ll be motivated if they have creative freedom. Provide a clear but also somewhat flexible framework in the details. So know how you want to live.
dr2okevin schrieb:
How do I know if my idea of a house fits the plot or roughly how many square meters of living space would be right for me?
The size depends on the “how.” For example, two of us manage perfectly well with 115 m² (1,235 sq ft). Forget the idea of “price per square meter.” It’s better to build your small dream home with a generous price per square meter than to optimize purely for square meter cost and end up in a “villa” where you don’t actually live the way you want. Of course, some hobbies naturally require space, like a snooker room.
Nana Hampshire. 115 square meters (1237 square feet) for two people is not tight. And never forget, having something is better than needing it. Beauty fades, but the land remains. This also applies to square meters. For mahogany built-in wardrobes, the money will still be enough in 25 years; it won’t disappear. But adding an extra room later is more difficult.
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