Hello everyone,
I have been a quiet reader of this forum for several months now and, naturally, I have been thinking about building a house. During this time, I have gathered quite a bit of information and would like to start by expressing a big thank you.
I had actually hoped that quietly reading would be enough since there are many members here and an active exchange of ideas. Unfortunately, I am not making progress with my planning because my requirements (and those of my partner) differ quite a bit from the majority, especially concerning space and project size.
I hope you can help me.
First, a little about us:
We are a young couple, both just 30, planning to build a house in a few years. If everything goes as planned, we want to start in 3-4 years. Our planning might seem a bit early, especially since prices are constantly changing (unfortunately not in favor of builders), but I like to plan ahead and have really enjoyed the process over the past few months. Currently, we are working in the hospitality industry in Switzerland to save up equity because we earn significantly more here. Unfortunately, my partner wants to leave Switzerland within 2 years at the latest to be closer to her family again, so after that, our saving potential will be quite limited. By that time, we expect to have saved around €120,000 of equity but will only be able to save a maximum of €10,000 per year after leaving Switzerland.
We have been living in small apartments ranging from 25m² to 35m² (270 to 375 sq ft) for the past 5 years and are naturally longing for more space in the future. However, we are still quite modest when it comes to this. We have spent months planning back and forth and agree that we don’t want more than a maximum of 100m² (1,080 sq ft). We definitely do not want children and are absolutely sure about that. We actually only need about 70-80m² (750 to 860 sq ft), but I want to stay flexible and therefore plan for an extra 10-20m² (100 to 215 sq ft).
Our garden should not be too large either, since we are not the type to invest much time in maintenance. A simple garage or a carport for one car would be sufficient. This might all sound like we want to save as much as possible everywhere, but that is only partly true. Everyone wants to spend as little as possible, and despite having a reasonably solid amount of equity, the fact remains that a large loan will not be an option in the future. However, we think it makes more sense not to invest in space we are sure we won’t need but rather in better quality finishes and fittings.
I know from this forum that the price per square meter increases significantly with smaller houses because many costs are fixed regardless of project size. Therefore, I have generously calculated €1,900 per square meter (€176 per sq ft). I would like a one-and-a-half-story house with a ground floor of about 50-60m² (540 to 645 sq ft) and a finished attic of about 25m² (270 sq ft), giving a total of about 85-95m² (915 to 1,025 sq ft).
I want the ground floor to be very open, with a living room of about 22m² (235 sq ft) and a kitchen with a dining area of about 14-16m² (150 to 170 sq ft). I also have in mind about 7m² (75 sq ft) for a utility room, with the rest consisting of the staircase, entrance area, and a small guest toilet. On the upper floor, there should be a bedroom of about 10m² (110 sq ft), a bathroom of about 8m² (85 sq ft) with a shower only, no bathtub, and the remaining space allocated to closets and storage. Speaking of storage: in case that question comes up, we are very minimalist and don't accumulate many things. We are confident that despite the lack of a basement, we won’t need much space. Over the years, we have always kept very few belongings and regularly did large decluttering.
What is disadvantageous for the price, but something I’d like: I don’t like most of the floor plans I have seen. I prefer a simple, square design without many corners or angles, but would like relatively large windows that reach down to the floor. Regarding the roof shape, I actually prefer a flat roof or a shed roof, although I have often read that these tend to be more expensive and problematic in terms of sealing. If the price difference is really that high, a gable roof would also be fine. I would accept the sloping ceilings upstairs.
Since I need significantly less living space upstairs than on the ground floor, I would also like a small open space (void) over the living room. However, if this has a strong negative impact on the price, I can do without it.
I haven’t given much thought to heating and technical systems yet, but underfloor heating on the ground floor would be desirable, and an active ventilation system sounds interesting. The question is whether the roughly €10,000 average price I found would still fit into our budget.
Since we will have no heirs and want to build this home for ourselves, it would be interesting regarding energy what really makes sense in the long term over the next 40-50 years at a reasonable price-performance ratio. I don’t want the worst insulation and energy rating, but I also don’t think it needs to be a full passive house, as I’ve read here that many measures only pay off after 30-40 years. So a middle ground probably makes the most sense. I hope I’ve explained this clearly enough, though it might seem a bit confusing.
Here is a rough overview of all the data I have tried to put together with the knowledge I’ve gathered so far:
Plot of land: Not yet acquired, prices in the area we want to move to are about €65,000 to €85,000, fully serviced.
Desired size: 85-95m² (915 to 1,025 sq ft)
Preferences: Simple design, no basement, small garden, carport or simple garage, not the cheapest finishes
Equity: About €120,000
Future saving potential: About €900 per month
Own work contribution: Practically none, no skilled tradespeople in our circle and we’re not handy.
Estimated costs by me:
House: About €160,000 - 170,000
Land: About €75,000
Foundation slab: About €15,000?
Additional building costs: About €30,000?
Contingency buffer: €15,000?
Total roughly €300,000.
Is my estimation roughly correct? Or have I overlooked something essential?
The €300,000 would also be roughly our upper limit. I think the small size, simple square design, low space requirement, and modest landscaping speak in favor of a good price. On the other hand, the individual wishes, especially probably many floor-to-ceiling windows, open plan design, possibly the void, and an active ventilation system, speak against it.
I am sure I have missed some things and hope for your help with a relatively realistic cost estimate, saving potential, and other details I might have overlooked.
Thank you very much in advance, and sorry for the long text.
I have been a quiet reader of this forum for several months now and, naturally, I have been thinking about building a house. During this time, I have gathered quite a bit of information and would like to start by expressing a big thank you.
I had actually hoped that quietly reading would be enough since there are many members here and an active exchange of ideas. Unfortunately, I am not making progress with my planning because my requirements (and those of my partner) differ quite a bit from the majority, especially concerning space and project size.
I hope you can help me.
First, a little about us:
We are a young couple, both just 30, planning to build a house in a few years. If everything goes as planned, we want to start in 3-4 years. Our planning might seem a bit early, especially since prices are constantly changing (unfortunately not in favor of builders), but I like to plan ahead and have really enjoyed the process over the past few months. Currently, we are working in the hospitality industry in Switzerland to save up equity because we earn significantly more here. Unfortunately, my partner wants to leave Switzerland within 2 years at the latest to be closer to her family again, so after that, our saving potential will be quite limited. By that time, we expect to have saved around €120,000 of equity but will only be able to save a maximum of €10,000 per year after leaving Switzerland.
We have been living in small apartments ranging from 25m² to 35m² (270 to 375 sq ft) for the past 5 years and are naturally longing for more space in the future. However, we are still quite modest when it comes to this. We have spent months planning back and forth and agree that we don’t want more than a maximum of 100m² (1,080 sq ft). We definitely do not want children and are absolutely sure about that. We actually only need about 70-80m² (750 to 860 sq ft), but I want to stay flexible and therefore plan for an extra 10-20m² (100 to 215 sq ft).
Our garden should not be too large either, since we are not the type to invest much time in maintenance. A simple garage or a carport for one car would be sufficient. This might all sound like we want to save as much as possible everywhere, but that is only partly true. Everyone wants to spend as little as possible, and despite having a reasonably solid amount of equity, the fact remains that a large loan will not be an option in the future. However, we think it makes more sense not to invest in space we are sure we won’t need but rather in better quality finishes and fittings.
I know from this forum that the price per square meter increases significantly with smaller houses because many costs are fixed regardless of project size. Therefore, I have generously calculated €1,900 per square meter (€176 per sq ft). I would like a one-and-a-half-story house with a ground floor of about 50-60m² (540 to 645 sq ft) and a finished attic of about 25m² (270 sq ft), giving a total of about 85-95m² (915 to 1,025 sq ft).
I want the ground floor to be very open, with a living room of about 22m² (235 sq ft) and a kitchen with a dining area of about 14-16m² (150 to 170 sq ft). I also have in mind about 7m² (75 sq ft) for a utility room, with the rest consisting of the staircase, entrance area, and a small guest toilet. On the upper floor, there should be a bedroom of about 10m² (110 sq ft), a bathroom of about 8m² (85 sq ft) with a shower only, no bathtub, and the remaining space allocated to closets and storage. Speaking of storage: in case that question comes up, we are very minimalist and don't accumulate many things. We are confident that despite the lack of a basement, we won’t need much space. Over the years, we have always kept very few belongings and regularly did large decluttering.
What is disadvantageous for the price, but something I’d like: I don’t like most of the floor plans I have seen. I prefer a simple, square design without many corners or angles, but would like relatively large windows that reach down to the floor. Regarding the roof shape, I actually prefer a flat roof or a shed roof, although I have often read that these tend to be more expensive and problematic in terms of sealing. If the price difference is really that high, a gable roof would also be fine. I would accept the sloping ceilings upstairs.
Since I need significantly less living space upstairs than on the ground floor, I would also like a small open space (void) over the living room. However, if this has a strong negative impact on the price, I can do without it.
I haven’t given much thought to heating and technical systems yet, but underfloor heating on the ground floor would be desirable, and an active ventilation system sounds interesting. The question is whether the roughly €10,000 average price I found would still fit into our budget.
Since we will have no heirs and want to build this home for ourselves, it would be interesting regarding energy what really makes sense in the long term over the next 40-50 years at a reasonable price-performance ratio. I don’t want the worst insulation and energy rating, but I also don’t think it needs to be a full passive house, as I’ve read here that many measures only pay off after 30-40 years. So a middle ground probably makes the most sense. I hope I’ve explained this clearly enough, though it might seem a bit confusing.
Here is a rough overview of all the data I have tried to put together with the knowledge I’ve gathered so far:
Plot of land: Not yet acquired, prices in the area we want to move to are about €65,000 to €85,000, fully serviced.
Desired size: 85-95m² (915 to 1,025 sq ft)
Preferences: Simple design, no basement, small garden, carport or simple garage, not the cheapest finishes
Equity: About €120,000
Future saving potential: About €900 per month
Own work contribution: Practically none, no skilled tradespeople in our circle and we’re not handy.
Estimated costs by me:
House: About €160,000 - 170,000
Land: About €75,000
Foundation slab: About €15,000?
Additional building costs: About €30,000?
Contingency buffer: €15,000?
Total roughly €300,000.
Is my estimation roughly correct? Or have I overlooked something essential?
The €300,000 would also be roughly our upper limit. I think the small size, simple square design, low space requirement, and modest landscaping speak in favor of a good price. On the other hand, the individual wishes, especially probably many floor-to-ceiling windows, open plan design, possibly the void, and an active ventilation system, speak against it.
I am sure I have missed some things and hope for your help with a relatively realistic cost estimate, saving potential, and other details I might have overlooked.
Thank you very much in advance, and sorry for the long text.
D655321 schrieb:
Estimated costs from my side:
House: approx. 160,000-170,000€
Land: approx. 75,000€
Foundation slab: approx. 15,000€?
Additional construction costs: approx. 30,000€?
Buffer: 15,000€?Hi D655321,
a long text is fine – you can use this space well to organize your thoughts and ideas.
You have clear ideas and a plan (which many don’t…). I like that.
Regarding "small house," I can help you, ours is tiny too. We’re only two people and unfortunately without children. You can get the floor plan from me via private message.
There even was a bungalow version of the house available with the living area you mentioned.
There is a thread here called "What did your house cost." I linked my house there too and shared the costs per square meter / per cubic meter (the total costs, for everything).
Living as small as necessary doesn’t have to be expensive, it actually saves money.
About your costs:
House: approx. 160,000-170,000€
- Realistic. It might be 10,000-15,000€ cheaper if you save on fittings. There are manufacturers who can do this in good quality (not the one I used, by the way, my house was not cheap). More details only by private message. FYI: I’m a private individual sharing personal experience or that of friends/acquaintances who have also built houses. I’m not working in the construction industry. A bungalow with simple fittings, in exactly the size you want, starting from the finished foundation slab, can be found for around 125,000-130,000€. Okay, that’s the budget version, but you can live well in it, even with the heating and ventilation you want. For your requirements, I would clearly recommend the small bungalow.
Land: approx. 75,000€
- That depends on what and where you buy. But please keep in mind notary fees and land transfer tax/planning permission fees. Also remember: location, location, location. Better to invest 10,000€ more here if the location, building plot, surroundings, and infrastructure are good.
Foundation slab: approx. 15,000€?
- No, please calculate around 20,000€ first. This depends heavily on the building ground and whether you have deep foundations (80cm–100cm (31–39 inches)) or shallow foundations with a frost protection strip.
Additional construction costs: approx. 30,000€?
- Yes, that’s a reasonable estimate for now.
Buffer: 15,000€?
- No, you have forgotten garden, kitchen, moving expenses, and many small things. Please set aside at least 25,000€, better 30,000€. And make sure to buy a fully serviced plot.
Keep staying realistic. Your general approach is definitely going in the absolutely right direction and mindset.
Thorsten
MarcWen schrieb:
Why does this sentence seem to appear in every other thread from the past few weeks? Is it supposed to imply, hey, I’ve only made one post (actually just this one), but I’ve been here forever and plan to become an active contributor in this forum.The person has been registered since November 25th of last year. I am willing to trust what they say/write. Their arguments are reasonable. For now, I find these kinds of posts acceptable—let’s see how things develop here.
Hello, you have the same personal conditions as we do, but we prefer a slightly stylish finish and can do without electronic gimmicks.
We would have liked to build a bungalow as well, but according to the building regulations/planning permission, it was not allowed. Therefore, no dedicated study was planned, but rather a combined office/guest room that can be used in case of illness. We solved the issue of having a generous area on the ground floor and less upstairs with an open space under a staggered gable/sloped roof, resulting in relatively little living area upstairs.
However, we did not want to give up spacious living areas: no bedroom where you feel claustrophobic or cannot get up properly beside the bed. Also, the living room is not only airy but also visually connected to the dining area, so the room is not taller than it is wide.
If the Wii gets unpacked again, you could do lunges in front of the TV, and there should also be space for hobbies.
Therefore, I also advise you to plan some additional space for changes and expansions of your lifestyle. Tools, decorations, bicycles, and walking sticks need to be stored within easy reach and neatly organized. That makes life easier and is not a matter of exaggeration. If care is needed later, you might have a room with a shower toilet for staff and a larger target group if you decide to sell.
With your equity, you can afford a light, small house; I am not familiar with the land prices in your preferred area.
We would have liked to build a bungalow as well, but according to the building regulations/planning permission, it was not allowed. Therefore, no dedicated study was planned, but rather a combined office/guest room that can be used in case of illness. We solved the issue of having a generous area on the ground floor and less upstairs with an open space under a staggered gable/sloped roof, resulting in relatively little living area upstairs.
However, we did not want to give up spacious living areas: no bedroom where you feel claustrophobic or cannot get up properly beside the bed. Also, the living room is not only airy but also visually connected to the dining area, so the room is not taller than it is wide.
If the Wii gets unpacked again, you could do lunges in front of the TV, and there should also be space for hobbies.
Therefore, I also advise you to plan some additional space for changes and expansions of your lifestyle. Tools, decorations, bicycles, and walking sticks need to be stored within easy reach and neatly organized. That makes life easier and is not a matter of exaggeration. If care is needed later, you might have a room with a shower toilet for staff and a larger target group if you decide to sell.
With your equity, you can afford a light, small house; I am not familiar with the land prices in your preferred area.
ypg schrieb:
With your equity, you can afford a light, small houseI completely agree, they could practically start the project immediately...
I’m a bit short on time right now, but thank you all for your insights so far.
Initially, I had thought about building a bungalow, but after reading in this forum that it might be more expensive due to a larger footprint and more roof area, I’m realizing that with my small size, it might still be worth it. If an extra 15–20m² (160–215 sq ft) really doesn’t have a big impact on the cost, it’s definitely a good idea to plan for more space. However, we also considered that it would mean more cleaning and might be too large for two people as we get older. On the other hand, you’ve already brought up some good points in favor of it...
When I mentioned that I’ve been reading here for a while, it was mainly to signal that I’ve done a lot of thinking and research beforehand, rather than blindly starting a thread with questions that have already been answered many times. It wasn’t meant negatively or anything, I just wanted to be polite.
I’ll have more time to write this evening, just wanted to give a quick interim update and thank everyone who has posted.
Initially, I had thought about building a bungalow, but after reading in this forum that it might be more expensive due to a larger footprint and more roof area, I’m realizing that with my small size, it might still be worth it. If an extra 15–20m² (160–215 sq ft) really doesn’t have a big impact on the cost, it’s definitely a good idea to plan for more space. However, we also considered that it would mean more cleaning and might be too large for two people as we get older. On the other hand, you’ve already brought up some good points in favor of it...
When I mentioned that I’ve been reading here for a while, it was mainly to signal that I’ve done a lot of thinking and research beforehand, rather than blindly starting a thread with questions that have already been answered many times. It wasn’t meant negatively or anything, I just wanted to be polite.
I’ll have more time to write this evening, just wanted to give a quick interim update and thank everyone who has posted.
D655321 schrieb:
When I mentioned that I have been reading along here for a while, it was mainly to show that I have already done a lot of thinking and research myself before opening a thread with questions that have been answered many times. It wasn’t meant in a negative way or anything like that; I just wanted to be polite.This clearly confirms my gut feeling.
People here really want to build seriously and realistically, with sensible and practical initial plans.
I’m happy to help here. We will get these two into their small house.
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